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"The Imperial Crusade into the Ghoul Stars at the start of the 42nd Millennium was criticized by many outside the Ordo Xenos, in particular by elements of the Ordo Hereticus. Why, they asked, when Tyranid and Chaos threats were peaking, were vital resources being diverted into a Crusade into the Ghoul Stars? In response, the Ordo Xenos pointed out it was precisely that reason the Crusade was being launched. They argued that the Ghoul Stars should be cleansed before the situation deteriorated any further, lest a xenos threat strike the Imperium in the rear while resources were diverted to deal with Chaos and the Tyranids. Faced with this reasoning, the Ordo Hereticus reluctantly dropped it's protests, and the Ghoul Stars Crusade began to assemble in the Othar system, several parsecs away from the Imperial border in the region..."

*Warmaster Durandal's Journal*
"Over five million Guardsmen and at least a thousand capital ships...can't say I'm surprised, considering we have Inquisition backing, but after all we've heard about the Ghoul Stars, I can't help but wonder, how many will be coming back? It's not that I'm unsure of victory, but as a Commander, I have to look out for my men, good men and women them all, no matter Commissar Lady Maria saying I'm too sentimental. I'm more concerned about the integrity of the Astartes though. The Blood Ravens and the Black Templars have been at loggerheads from the start, and the fact that Captains Fabian, Ventris, and Sinon of the Ultramarines are the ones keeping them apart worries me, although I'm sure we can count on them all when the time comes. Emperor help us all if they don't. I'm grateful though, that the Mechanicus has decided to send a Legion to help us. Once the Legio Astorum arrive, we can begin. Yes, I'm looking forward to it, an end to this indecisive feeling."

*Inquisition Report - Crusade Forces*
Adeptus Astartes
- Blood Ravens Chapter 4th Company, Captain Aramus
- Black Templars Chapter 19th Crusade Fighting Company, Castellan Cruze
- Ultramarines Chapter 3rd Company, Captain Fabian
- Ultramarines Chapter 4th Company, Captain Ventris
- Ultramarines Chapter 9th Company, Captain Sinon
- Sons of Orar Chapter 5th Company (decimated by enemy, withdrawn) - replaced by Novamarines 8th Company
- Death Spectres Chapter 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th Companies
Imperial Guard
- over five million Guardsmen, and over five hundred thousand armored vehicles (not including non-combatants and support units)
Imperial Navy
- at least one thousand capital ships, indeterminate smaller vessels, attack craft, support units
Titan Legions
- Legio Astorum, en route, at least 50 Titans, includes full Skitarii detachment and naval and aviation arm

I like this...
Maybe write a list of regiments of Imperial Guard?
Might be good fun to come up with some...
I presume the SM have their naval forces with them?
Also is the crusade split up into various armies or just one massive army?

purplefood wrote:I like this...
Maybe write a list of regiments of Imperial Guard?
Might be good fun to come up with some...
I presume the SM have their naval forces with them?
Also is the crusade split up into various armies or just one massive army?

I might be able to name some of the regiments, but with over five million troops, a complete list is impossible. My idea was for anyone who wanted to join the Crusade to post their own report, so to speak. As for Astartes naturally, they have their own naval forces. And that's just the initial force. Additional Astartes units may be deployed, once again by anyone who want to join the Crusade, just post your own battle/unit report. As the Crusade begins, I plan to split it up into several fronts.

Imperial Guard unit list (not fixed, just add if you want to)
- Cadian 12th Heavy Tank Company
- Cadian 3rd Heavy Tank Regiment
- Cadian 77th Heavy AA Regiment
- Cadian 9th Armored Regiment
- Cadian 13th Armored Regiment
- Cadian 31st Armored Regiment
- Cadian 142nd Armored Regiment
- Cadian 113th Mechanized Infantry
- 3rd Cadian Shock Troops Regiment
- 8th Cadian Shock Troops Regiment
- 9th Cadian Shock Troops Regiment
- 23rd Cadian Shock Troops Regiment
- 24th Cadian Shock Troops Regiment
- 39th Cadian Shock Troops Regiment
- 85th Cadian Shock Troops Regiment
- 107th Cadian Shock Troops Regiment
- 110th Cadian Shock Troops Regiment
- 8th Valhallan Armoured Regiment
- 14th Valhallan Armoured Regiment
- 28th Valhallan Armoured Regiment
- 23rd Valhallan Ice Warriors Regiment
- 54th Valhallan Ice Warriors Regiment
- 93rd Valhallan Ice Warriors Regiment
- 222nd Valhallan Ice Warriors



*From Inquisition Sector Conclave to Crusade Staff*
"Request for general exterminatus approval denied. Objective of Crusade is to pacify and secure region by elimination of indigenous xenos population and subsequent Imperial settlement. The Emperor Protects."

Tadashi wrote:"[i]
*Inquisition Report - Crusade Forces*
Adeptus Astartes
- Blood Ravens Chapter 4th Company, Captain Aramus
- Black Templars Chapter 19th Crusade Fighting Company, Castellan Cruze
- Ultramarines Chapter 3rd Company, Captain Fabian
- Ultramarines Chapter 4th Company, Captain Ventris
- Ultramarines Chapter 9th Company, Captain Sinon
- Sons of Orar Chapter 5th Company
- Death Spectres Chapter 1st, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th Companies
Imperial Guard
- over one million Guardsmen, and over a hundred thousand armored vehicles (not including non-combatants and support units)
Imperial Navy
- at least one thousand capital ships, indeterminate smaller vessels, attack craft, support units

You have 11 Space Marine Companies and one thousand capital ships. However you only have "over a million Guardsmen, this seems woefully out of proportion in terms of way too few Guardsmen.

The capital ships yeah...
Maybe reduce the nubers slightly.
The SM companies not so much...
The amount of SM companies can depend on a varied number of things including how generous the chapter is feeling, how much they hate what you are attacking, whether they owe you any favours.
So maybe an Inquisitor is owed something by someone in the Ultramarines chapter and the Death Spectres chapter.
Also the Ultramarines could easily call in some successor chapters to assist...

Actually only the Ultramarines 3rd was supposed to come, but I remembered that the Black Templars and the Blood Ravens don't get along well. So I decided to expand the Ultramarines to keep them apart.

Reduced Astartes elements to ten companies...any suggestions on a more proportionate Guard number; I'd rather not reduce the fleet element considering the Crusade is entering unexplored territory.

Tadashi wrote:Actually only the Ultramarines 3rd was supposed to come, but I remembered that the Black Templars and the Blood Ravens don't get along well. So I decided to expand the Ultramarines to keep them apart.

If they have agreed to fight in a crusade the chapters are under the command of the Warmaster for as long as the crusade goes on. The BT will not attack the BR unless the BR are actively being baddies.

purplefood wrote:

Tadashi wrote:Actually only the Ultramarines 3rd was supposed to come, but I remembered that the Black Templars and the Blood Ravens don't get along well. So I decided to expand the Ultramarines to keep them apart.

If they have agreed to fight in a crusade the chapters are under the command of the Warmaster for as long as the crusade goes on. The BT will not attack the BR unless the BR are actively being baddies.

Off the field though, the Warmaster is concerned since the command elements of the two are arguing with each other, with the Ultramarines trying to keep things civil.

I've decided to split the Crusade into four battlegroups:

Attack Group Atlas
- Blood Ravens 4th Company
- Ultramarines 3rd Company
- Imperial Guard and Imperial Navy elements

Attack Group Chronos
- Black Templars
- Ultramarines 4th Company
- Imperial Guard and Imperial Navy elements

Attack Group Rhea
- Ultramarines 9th Company
- Sons of Orar 5th Company (decimated by enemy, withdrawn) - replaced by Novamarines 8th Company
- Legio Astorum
- Imperial Guard and Imperial Navy elements (includes Warmaster)

Attack Group Hades
- Death Spectres 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th Companies
- Imperial Guard and Imperial Navy elements

Personally I could see the Death Spectres as the Ghoul Stars is their responsibility. As far as the other chapters...I could see one or two other than the Black Templar unless it was a protracted campaign or is an old enemy. Also it is a crusade so I would see something around 4 to 10 million Guardsmen at the least.

Zerib wrote:Personally I could see the Death Spectres as the Ghoul Stars is their responsibility. As far as the other chapters...I could see one or two other than the Black Templar unless it was a protracted campaign or is an old enemy. Also it is a crusade so I would see something around 4 to 10 million Guardsmen at the least.

Well it could be anything from 20,000 (Damocles) to 10,000,000 (Vraks)
I'd say 3 million seems fair for this...

purplefood wrote:

Zerib wrote:Personally I could see the Death Spectres as the Ghoul Stars is their responsibility. As far as the other chapters...I could see one or two other than the Black Templar unless it was a protracted campaign or is an old enemy. Also it is a crusade so I would see something around 4 to 10 million Guardsmen at the least.

Well it could be anything from 20,000 (Damocles) to 10,000,000 (Vraks)
I'd say 3 million seems fair for this...

I give five million. Just to be on the safe side. No wonder the Ordo Hereticus is nervous.

The Crusade Begins

Operation Sunrise
"The initial operation of the Crusade was named in token to the ancient Human belief that monstrous creatures from Ancient Terra cannot stand the light of the Terran sun. The Operation had two goals set by the Warmaster:

1) To set up bases of operations in the Ghoul Stars, allowing recon operations in force prior to more dedicated offensive operations
2) To harden morale and resolve with an initial victory

The Crusade would push forward along four lines of approach, each headed for one of the four primary star clusters in the region. Attack Groups Hades and Chronos would achieve quick victory, but Attack Groups Atlas and Rhea would face stiffer resistance. Attack Group Atlas successfully minimized casualties and diluted xenos resistance through effective use of both Astartes and non-Astartes psychic units, as well as tactical use of orbital bombardment, but at great cost in time. Attack Group Rhea initially achieved advances, but ground to a halt due to well dug-in xenos defenders. The Legio Astorum was deployed only after an unexpected xenos counterattack threatened to force the Attack Group to withdraw, stopped only by heroic (and costly) action by the Imperial Guard. With the Legio Astorum deployed, the situation quickly turned in favor of the Crusaders, who achieved victory in short order.

With the initial operation a success, the Imperial Navy now began sending recon operations in force into the Ghoul Stars proper, with support from Astartes elements. Imperial Navy units also had to be retasked to defend the new Imperial supply lines heading back to the homeland, fully justifying the large fleet element of the Crusade. The Ordo Xenos also dispatched Inquisitor Xiao to join the Crusade staff to better understand and combat the new and dangerous xenos species encountered by the Crusade, and also to provide firsthand progress reports to help the Ordo Xenos alleviate Ordo Hereticus concerns about increasing Imperial mobilization in Ultima Segmentum."

Tadashi wrote:

purplefood wrote:

Zerib wrote:Personally I could see the Death Spectres as the Ghoul Stars is their responsibility. As far as the other chapters...I could see one or two other than the Black Templar unless it was a protracted campaign or is an old enemy. Also it is a crusade so I would see something around 4 to 10 million Guardsmen at the least.

Well it could be anything from 20,000 (Damocles) to 10,000,000 (Vraks)
I'd say 3 million seems fair for this...

I give five million. Just to be on the safe side. No wonder the Ordo Hereticus is nervous.

The safe sife of the guard is the side that has the most zeros...
The Hereticus should only be nervous because it 'weakens' the rest of the Imperium.
Though maybe you should mention the background context of the increasing mobilisation of the Ultima Segmentum.

*Encrypted communique from Inquisition Sector Conclave to Warmaster Durandal*
"Congratulations and praise the Emperor for the initial success. The Ordo Hereticus opposition has been reduced, although they remain concerned that mobilization of nearby sectors to support the Crusade may weaken the rest of the Ultima Segmentum. With that in mind, we regret to inform you that we cannot support the deployment of additional Astartes, unless the Chapter wishes to join the Crusade of it's own volition. We simply cannot ignore the Hereticus' argument that the Crusade is draining resources from the Segmentum, although support for continued Crusade operations remain strong. Imperial Guard and Naval reinforcement will proceed as planned. We hope to continue to see good progress in the Crusade. The Emperor Protects."

I'm a Necron Monolith dropping templates in your lines.

IHateNids wrote:I'm a Necron Monolith dropping templates in your lines.

In that case, feel free to join the battles in the area. Necrons would add an interesting faction in a Crusade that so far has only faced unnamed, minor, but troublesome even if disunited, xenos species.

Tell me what size force (fluff wise) and Ill write a battle scene for you.

Advancing into the Ghoul Stars

The xenos forces proved more formidable than expected, launching attacks on Imperial Navy recon forces at high speed before retreating. While they failed to destroy significant capital ship forces, more concerning was such raids were quite effective disrupting Imperial supply lines despite Naval efforts to get the supply ships to secure starports upon transition from the warp.

Operation Stars of Destiny

Warmaster Durandal now launched a new offensive, meant to split the Ghoul Stars in two and establish an Imperial salient into enemy territory. Attack Groups Atlas and Chronos would push forward, and conquer the two inner star clusters of the Ghoul Stars region. By doing so, Imperial armies could attack the other clusters from a much larger array of positions. Attack Groups Rhea and Hades would remain on reserve, to be deployed when necessary.

From the beginning, the Operation ran into difficulties. Both Attack Groups Atlas and Chronos would would find their advance slowed to a bloody, deliberate advance, as xenos forces bitterly and (sometimes literally) venomously resisted the Crusaders. Guard casualties were enormous. By the time the Operation was complete, both Attack Groups had lost between them around one million Guardsmen. Naval and Astartes casualties, while serious, were less debilitating, allowing the attack to continue.

More concerning were reports that Necron forces were confirmed to be present in the area, forcing the Warmaster to send Inquisitor Xiao and deploy Attack Group Hades to protect the Crusade flank from the Necron threat, with orders that left no illusions as to what would happen should they not be followed. Another concern of the Warmaster was that Ordo Xenos intel indicated that seven major xenos powers in the region had formed an alliance, and were assembling a huge force at System 136 to counterattack once the Operation had reached it's high point, informing the Warmaster that the enemy was planning to attack when the Operation was at it's weakest: just before achieving victory. The Warmaster now prepared to deploy along with Attack Group Rhea and to begin a dangerous gamble...

IHateNids wrote:Tell me what size force (fluff wise) and Ill write a battle scene for you.

I'll leave the defensive campaign of Attack Group Hades against the Necrons to you, then. The Necron forces are up to you, but you're up against four Astartes companies, two million guardsmen, and 250 capital ships. The Imperium has to win, but, it doesn't have to be an easy victory. Feel free to bleed the Guard white, just don't destroy them. As for the Astartes and the Navy, don't deplete them. It's not easy replacing them, both in the story and outside, since I'm the one coming up with reasons for the Ordo Xenos to deploy more ships and Space Marines.

Done deal. Decimate the guard numbers, Inflict a canny number of casualties on the Marines, mabey level a few cruisers.

Sound good? PM me your Email address so I can send it too you, or I'll PM the whole thing to you, if you would prefer.

Destiny Ascendant

Like most experienced Commanders, Warmaster Durandal was well aware that a military force was at it's most vulnerable just before victory, when their forces were fully committed. Such was the case with Operation Stars of Destiny. Attack Groups Atlas and Chronos, between them having four Astartes Companies, two million Guardsmen, and 500 capital ships, were fully deployed over dozens of star systems across the two inner star clusters of the Ghoul Stars. The enemy counterattack massing at System 136, once launched, could not only compromise the Operation, but destroy both Attack Groups. To prevent this, the Warmaster decided to launch a preemptive strike at System 136 with the full force of Attack Group Rhea, an operation called Destiny Ascendant.

The initial naval engagement would light up the night skies of System 136 only habitable world, as the Imperial Navy strove to gain control of enemy airspace over the planet's starport. The first troops to land were Astartes from the Sons of Orar and Ultramarines Chapters, who were immediately faced with vicious resistance. The Astartes secured the starport, holding out long enough for Guard reinforcements to be deployed to completely secure the starport. The enemy fell back, while the Imperial Guard and Navy holding the area and airspace around the starport. The Astartes would move on ahead, harrying the enemy, confirming that enemy forces were preparing a counterattack on Imperial troops digging in around the starport. As the attack was launched, the Imperial defenders held out despite serious losses, until more Guard units were deployed behind enemy lines through approaches held by Naval and Astartes units, allowing the xenos counterattack to be destroyed by two, huge Imperial armies, destroying fully a third of the xenos forces meant for the counterattack on Operation Stars of Destiny.

The bulk of the remaining xenos forces dug in the core continent's mountain range, leading to weeks of vicious fighting while Naval units lanced all the cities and major population centers along the broad coastal plains and high plateaus around the spaceport. After weeks of brutal mountain action, the last xenos forces gathered around the planet's capital in the small, but wide mountain valley to the southern end of the core continent. While the Astartes rooted out the remaining xenos forces in the mountains to the north, the Legio Astorum and the Imperial Guard launched the final assault, led personally by the Warmaster himself.

The Legio Astorum would spearhead the attack; led by a mighty Emperor-class Titan, the god-machines of the Legio Astorum would reduce the capital to ruins in less than two hours. The Guard and Skitarii then closed in to eliminate the remaining xenos forces. Fighting was vicious, with the Warmaster being seriously injured during the height of the fighting, forcing his evacuation to the Imperial flagship, but ultimately, the Imperium would emerge victorious, with Colonel Leon of the 91st Harakoni Drop Troops Regiment raising the Imperial Eagle over the ruins of the Alliance Headquarters, with most of the Alliance Commanders dead at his feet. The survivors were handed over to agents of His Majesty's Holy Inquisition for interrogation, while the Imperial Navy launched a planter-scouring orbital strike once all Imperial forces had withdrawn to orbit. Not exterminatus, but enough to render the planet uninhabitable until the Mechanicus had the time and opportunity to repair the ecological damage to the planet.

Casualties were heavy. 250,000 Guardsmen were estimated to have been killed, out of one million, and the Sons of Orar Fifth had been decimated. They were withdrawn from the theater by their Chapter and were replaced by the Novamarines 8th Company. The Legio Astorum had lost ten Titans, of which eight were salvaged and repaired, but two Reavers were destroyed beyond hope of recovery. Following the battle, both the Ecclesiarchy and the Mechanicus would hold services within the fleet during transit for all fallen warriors and machines.

This looks amazing so far! I would be honored to add to it.

Alexzandvar wrote:This looks amazing so far! I would be honored to add to it.

Welcome to the Crusade, my friend. Although I'm not planning this Crusade for a long while yet, I'd like to know if you have any suggestions regarding a similar Crusade into the Tau Empire once this is done.

Tadashi wrote:

Alexzandvar wrote:This looks amazing so far! I would be honored to add to it.

Welcome to the Crusade, my friend. Although I'm not planning this Crusade for a long while yet, I'd like to know if you have any suggestions regarding a similar Crusade into the Tau Empire once this is done.

I would recommend using massed IG and Heavy Armor and Titans. Shock and Awe will be needed in force in order to keep the Tau subdued in there tiny sector of space.

Space Marines are needed on more Urgent battlefronts, the Crusade against the Tau will be a fine opportunity to test the metal of new regiments and to sooth the Mechanicus's ego on Technological superiority.

Not to mention I will push to have the newly joined Firehawk Imperium's best Armor on the battlefront in said crusade!

Funny image in my mind... A Tau hammerhead sniping imperial titan pilots.

One problem the ultramarines would not go there. They have enough problems. Might have one of their successors do the job though. Might have strike force elements. Plus I have two chapters in my sig that could be used but one is massively huge the other is almost competely destroyed. Or you could take the Black Vindicators which are basically ultramarines. (Successor chapter) And are also stationed here. The ultramarines would not send three companies ever since the arrival of so many demons to the area.

Asherian Command wrote:One problem the ultramarines would not go there. They have enough problems. Might have one of their successors do the job though. Might have strike force elements. Plus I have two chapters in my sig that could be used but one is massively huge the other is almost competely destroyed. Or you could take the Black Vindicators which are basically ultramarines. (Successor chapter) And are also stationed here. The ultramarines would not send three companies ever since the arrival of so many demons to the area.

Too late for that. Let's just go with the idea that the Inquisition and the High Lords made a few concessions, called in a few favors, and so on...

Asherian Command wrote:One problem the ultramarines would not go there. They have enough problems. Might have one of their successors do the job though. Might have strike force elements. Plus I have two chapters in my sig that could be used but one is massively huge the other is almost competely destroyed. Or you could take the Black Vindicators which are basically ultramarines. (Successor chapter) And are also stationed here. The ultramarines would not send three companies ever since the arrival of so many demons to the area.

Sorry but since when were the Ultramarines scared of daemons?
The Ultramarinesd o have many problems but they managed to send their honour guard all the way across the Imperium to fight in the 13th Black Crusade, they can spare a company or two for a crusade into the Ghoul Stars, not to mention calling up any availible successor assets...

purplefood wrote:

Asherian Command wrote:One problem the ultramarines would not go there. They have enough problems. Might have one of their successors do the job though. Might have strike force elements. Plus I have two chapters in my sig that could be used but one is massively huge the other is almost competely destroyed. Or you could take the Black Vindicators which are basically ultramarines. (Successor chapter) And are also stationed here. The ultramarines would not send three companies ever since the arrival of so many demons to the area.

Sorry but since when were the Ultramarines scared of daemons?
The Ultramarinesd o have many problems but they managed to send their honour guard all the way across the Imperium to fight in the 13th Black Crusade, they can spare a company or two for a crusade into the Ghoul Stars, not to mention calling up any availible successor assets...

Scared of no. But of fighting Mkar and so on. If anything it might be 9th company, 4th 6th (Whatever) are lead by ultramarine strike forces but they mainly consist of Successor chapters. These would include the hundreds that there are.

Tadashi wrote:

Asherian Command wrote:One problem the ultramarines would not go there. They have enough problems. Might have one of their successors do the job though. Might have strike force elements. Plus I have two chapters in my sig that could be used but one is massively huge the other is almost competely destroyed. Or you could take the Black Vindicators which are basically ultramarines. (Successor chapter) And are also stationed here. The ultramarines would not send three companies ever since the arrival of so many demons to the area.

Too late for that. Let's just go with the idea that the Inquisition and the High Lords made a few concessions, called in a few favors, and so on...

I accept that just write that in. Is it current or is it before?

Asherian Command wrote:

purplefood wrote:

Asherian Command wrote:One problem the ultramarines would not go there. They have enough problems. Might have one of their successors do the job though. Might have strike force elements. Plus I have two chapters in my sig that could be used but one is massively huge the other is almost competely destroyed. Or you could take the Black Vindicators which are basically ultramarines. (Successor chapter) And are also stationed here. The ultramarines would not send three companies ever since the arrival of so many demons to the area.

Sorry but since when were the Ultramarines scared of daemons?
The Ultramarinesd o have many problems but they managed to send their honour guard all the way across the Imperium to fight in the 13th Black Crusade, they can spare a company or two for a crusade into the Ghoul Stars, not to mention calling up any availible successor assets...

Scared of no. But of fighting Mkar and so on. If anything it might be 9th company, 4th 6th (Whatever) are lead by ultramarine strike forces but they mainly consist of Successor chapters. These would include the hundreds that there are.

So just because they fought (and beat) Mkar twice they are suddenly unable to fight any other daemon for the rest of eternity?
Please explain.