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A few months ago, the Tau Empire approaches the governor of the planet Cascada for trade business. However, diplomacy ended abruptly after the governor arrested the Tau envoys and publically executed them. When diplomacy fails, Tau turns to aggressive negotiation.
A week later, the Nazca, a Tau Emissary starship, reaches orbit around planet Cascada. The ship’s advance stealth generator allows it to escape detection from Imperial satellite’s sensors. For the next few days, Shas’el R’au and earth caste studies the planet’s geography and strategic locations. Planetary Defense Force strongholds are marked and battle plans drawn. After collecting substantial information, R’au moves into the next phase of his invasion, ground reconnaissance.
……………..
Under the cover of darkness, Shas’el R’au leads a small force of Crisis Suits, Fire Warriors, and Kroots on reconnaissance. Shas’el R’au lightly press on a foot pedal, urging his Crisis Suit forward. The bipedal mobile armor easily maneuvers through the underbrush. Fire Warriors hops from one tree to the next, covering each other against potential threats. Crisis Suits advances along the flanks. Kroots scouts up ahead, relaying information back to their commander.
“Commander, we are approaching enemy stronghold,” reports Kroot squad leader.
“Hold your position, wait for my arrival,” reply R’au.
Just as he approach the Kroots location, a bright flash illuminates from the distance. The sound of rockets screams in the air, heading straight towards R’au. With quick reflexes, R’au ducks his Suit. He could feel the heat from the rocket’s motor briefly heat up his Suit’s canopy as it flies past, hitting nearby Kroots.
The blast lights up the ground, sending Kroot body parts and dirt flying everywhere.
I have a few painted armies. If it weren't for the ban on 2+, I would have played Sisters of Battle with Saint Celestine. My Blood Angels aren't fully painted and they my play style doesn't function well at 500 points level. I decided to play Tau for my first game.
Army List
Task Force Agoge Prime (codex Space Marines): Captain, Power Sword
10 Tactical Marines, Power Sword, Plasmagun, Lascannon, Razorback w/ TL-Heavy Bolters
Attack Bike, Multi-Melta
Whirlwind
The rule restrictions on AV, 2+ saves, and special characters takes a lot of fun out of the game. I couldn't field Hammerheads, Broadsides, or Devilfish. Whirlwind, Basilisk, and cheap Rhinos seems grossly overpowered with these restrictions. I'm skeptical whether it really does bring balance.
In the past I've been lucky with my moral saves. That wasn't the case in this game. I failed two LD9 moral tests and I lost a unit of Fire Warriors from running off the board. Had the Marine player pulled back towards the Ruins and gone to ground for 3+ cover save, he might have won the game. Alternatively if he got the charge off against my Crisis Suits, he still could have won the game. I was really lucky there.
In hindsight, I should have gotten rid of the Attack Bike first and take out the Razorback second. Whirlwind is so far back and hard to kill. It's Incendinary Castellan Missiles ignores cover saves, which makes it perfect in night fighting.
With the end of summer looming and Fall Semester about to start, I may not compete for the remainder of the painting league escalation. They meet up Thursday evening, which happens to be one of my scheduled pack days at college. If I do get time to play 40k, it will be during Sundays. There's a couple weeks remaining. I hope to get a few reports in before I go on hiatus. I also need to update my previous battle reports with stories.
..........
Multiple warning sensors flashes inside Shas’el R’ue’s cockpit. His Battlesuit took a lot of damage, but it was still functioning.
Throughout the battle, both sides took heavy casualties. Kroots and Fire Warriors kept a constant rate fire, picking off Marines in the distance. A burning skeleton of what used to be a Crisis Suits lies on hill after being shot by enemy Multi-Melta. Despite the Crisis Teams’ best efforts, the enemy artillery keeps blasting Tau infantry. R’ue ordered his Fire Warriors to retreat, less they get wiped out.
In the distance, R’ue spots the blue hull of the enemy Razorback pulling back.
“Enemy armor, neutralize it.” Orders R’ue.
A streak of missiles flies out the Crisis Tea’s missile pylon and slams into the Razorback. In a cacophony of explosions, the enemy transport bursts into flames. Its occupants immediately bail out. Their armor protects.
Among them stands a Space Marine captain. He whips out his Power Sword and points it towards the Crisis Team and yells, “For the emperor!” He and his marines, charge.
“Cover fire!” yells R’ue. Kroots follows his command and rapid fires into the Marines. R’ue and Crisis Suits unload everything they’ve got. The Marines disappears under a cloud of Plasma, Missiles, and slugs. As it clears, nothings left except mangled bodies and chunks of armor.
R’ue nods with satisfaction. “Crisis Team, take out enemy artillery,” he calmly orders. R’ue switches channels to command deck aboard Nazca. “Commence planetfall of invasion force.”
This message was edited 3 times. Last update was at 2012/08/05 00:32:14
Valgaurd wrote:Woah , the ending there was a real shocker.... well painted armies too.. good job!
After the Marines picked up the relic and hopped back in their Razorback, I was certain I was going to lose.
I guess my opponent was unsure how long the game would continue and decided to go on the offense. While he did did kill most of my infantry, it's really my Crisis Suits that's the biggest threat.
Now that they can have allies, I think Tau is going to be better this edition. Tau with orks? How about Tau with a night scythe and doomscythe? Ah, the possibilities....
, the ending there was a real shocker.... well painted armies too.. good job!
.....Bay Area Open GT 2013 - Best Tyranids 
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