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Welcome to game 10 of our Tyranid vs. Imperium campaign. A bit of a pause since our last post due to real life getting in the way (building a house, moving etc.).

The other campaign games can be found here: http://www.dakkadakka.com/wiki/en/Gordy2000%27s_Battle_Reports

In our last game, the forces of the Hive Mind conducted a surprise orbital attack on the Astartes support ships, only been driven off at great cost. Meanwhile, Inquisitor Iniquitous and his retinue have been beating a hasty retreat through the near-overrun research facility following the disaster at the landing fields.

Luck however, would seem to be swinging the Inquisitor’s way as he stumbles across one last chance to escape the planet and his own culpability for the current crisis…
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Iniquitous carefully pushed the dense foliage aside to get a better look at the source of the sound he and his retinue had been creeping towards for the last 20 minutes. Whatever was causing the rumbling coming from the other side of the thick vegetation in front of him, it was definitely mechanical.

“The Emperor protects” breathed the Inquisitor as he peered out into the clearing. There, engines running, stood no less than 5 armoured vehicles, including transports and Leman Russ tanks.

Without waiting for his acolytes, Iniquitous ran down the small embankment into the clearing, waving his arms and shouting to attract the vehicle crews. Almost immediately a hatch atop the lead leman Russ swung open and a startled looking junior officer emerged.

“You there!” Shouted Iniquitous as he began to climb onto the tanks front glacis plate. “I hereby requisition this convoy in the name of His Holy Inquisition!” The wide-eyed tank commander sketched a hasty salute. “But…but my Lord, we are the strategic reserve positioned here by Captain Gordus himself” he protested weakly.

“No longer!” barked the Inquisitor as he reached the cupola. “You now have a higher calling – to convey me and my advisors to the last functioning landing pad in the facility. We have contacted the remaining Valkyrie to meet us there for immediate transport off-world”

“Uh, yes my Lord. Should I contact Captain Gordus and advise him of the change of plan?” Queried the lieutenant. “No time! We must away before the damned Xenos find us” Shouted Iniquitous, with a barely suppressed edge of panic in his voice.

A voice floated up from the tank’s gunner “Lieutenant, I’ve got contacts to our front – some look pretty big”

“Go! Go!” yelled Iniquitous as he jumped from the turret and headed towards one of the idling Chimeras “Get me to that Valkyrie!”

The Inquisitor disappeared into the rear of the transport as the rest of his retinue scrambled aboard. The door slammed shut a moment before the convoy lurched forward towards the foreboding jungle ahead….
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The game was played using the Spearhead rules and the Imperial force was chosen from the armoured battle group list.

The convoy moves forward cautiously through the outskirts of the facility


With a deafening roar, a Carnifex brood explodes from the jungle


Load Beast Hunter Round – lay target….FIRE! The Command tank kills one of the Tyranid monsters with specialised ammo


But the Hive Mind has a response for such firepower. A spore-pod crashes down in front of the command tank, spewing forth no less than three Zoanthropes


More Tyranid creatures pour from the jungle


Including great gun-beasts and Tervigons


The combined psychic power of three Zoanthropes blasts the command tank to pieces


Salvation? The last operational Valkyrie arrives and begins to strafe the oncoming Tyranids


Aid unlooked for: A Salamander Storm Talon arrives on station and engages a flying Hive Tyrant in an aerial duel


The creature is wounded and falls to earth


With the command tank and its special ammunition gone, the swarm pushes forwards


Rangers deploy from their Chimera and begin to lay down fire


But the swarm seems endless…


A second squad takes the fight to the Zoanthropes and spore-pod


The tentacled and fleshy pod is destroyed with krak grenades


Their supporting Chimera engages the Zoanthropes


The first Ranger squad bravely hold the line against the approaching Tyrant


The Xenos scuttle closer…into the face of the Imperial gun line



The Zoanthropes are wiped out by the Rangers as the Tyrannofex comes into range and damages the Demolisher


The Valkyrie keeps up the strafing runs as the Guard blast apart creature after creature


Raaaargh! The Tyrannofex vomits forth a devastating organic projectile


Ka-booom! Iniquitous has his Chimera shot out from under him. He watches in dismay as the last operational Valkyrie is smashed from the sky by Hive Guard fire


“All is lost! Retreat!” The Inquisitor is rescued by a Ranger squad and quits the field


The Hive Mind is victorious!


++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Iniquitous staggered out of the back of the Chimera as the engine sputtered and ground to a halt. “Sorry sir” called down the driver." Out of gas – we only had enough for one sortie. The fuel bowsers have been overrun by the Xenos.”
The Inquisitor slumped down on the rear ramp of the transport and put his head in his hands. The tanks were now useless and his last apparent hope of escape was burning in the jungle a few miles back. This surely was the lowest ebb?

Raised voices and a small cheer roused him from his despair. Iniquitous looked up to see a squad of Astartes pushing towards him through a throng of Rangers. His heart sank as he saw the colour of their armour – the deep red of the Sons of Gord.
“Iniquitous?” Barked the first marine, his voice distorted by his helm to a deep rumble.

“That is Inquisitor to you Sergeant” Iniquitous said as he rose to his feet and dusted off the front of his robes. “Show your betters proper respect”

The marine seemed unmoved. “By order of Captain Gordus, Theatre Commander, I hereby place you under arrest for techno-heresy, consorting with forbidden Xenos organisms and other crimes far too numerous to detail.”

Iniquitous froze. His mouth hung open for long moments before he collected his wits “Are you mad!? I am an Inquisitor of the Holy Ordos! My will is law! By what authority do you make these scurrilous accusations!”

An instant later the Inquisitor found himself blinking into the unwavering barrel of a Godwin-pattern Astartes Bolter. “By this authority. You will accompany us to the remaining strongpoint and await the arrival of our Captain.” The Sergeant took him by his collar and marched him past the stupefied guardsmen. To the disgust of Iniquitous, his retinue stayed inside the Chimera, eyes looking everywhere but at him. You just couldn’t find good help these days…..
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Another game in the bag for the Xenos – things are looking bleak indeed for the Imperial team (and Iniquitous also, caught between the devil and the deep blue sea).
Once the command tank went and took the beast-hunter shells with it, it was all down-hill. Having both fliers knocked down by ground fire was the final nail in the coffin. (6 to hit, 6 to pen, 6 on the damage roll for both. Julz’ dice strikes again….). Nice to play a game of spearhead for variety though.

Next game – Last Stand of Inquisitor Iniquitous. Based on the battle for the farm from Zulu. Xenos sah! Faaaarsands of em’!

Brilliant stuff as always, it's good to see someone else rolling out with armoured battlegroup.

I love your reports and your armies!!! You make 40k look gooood.

Now I want to buy a box of Cadians, too...

These battle reports are pure gold. For you last stand Zulu style game, have you read the version in White Dwarf from years back?

Thanks guys.

For you last stand Zulu style game, have you read the version in White Dwarf from years back?

You know, I did recall that game when we were planning our own one. One of the all-time great WD battle reports I think.

A really great scenario - it should make for an excellent game (and bat rep hopefully)

Great report! I really like the paint job on the leman russ tanks.

Just a flawless bat rep. One question cause I'm a noob. What's the Command tank with specialized ammo. I don't see it in the codex. Or maybe I'm just dumb :3

Great battle rep!!
The figs and terrain are top notch!!

Just a comment on your pics. They're a little dark. You should brighten them before posting. You can even do it in photobucket.

BTW, awesome terrain, awesome armies and great battle report.

Very well done, the Inquisitor model looks great and those Gargoyles/Gaunts are just brilliant looking. Love the blending on the wings.

When I first saw the deployment, I thought Hammer and Anvil meant those Tyranids were sunk. Very good deployment though to close quickly.

As always your reports are amazing, a feast for the eyes with a compelling story, what's not to like?

I look forward to the next installment!

Now THIS is 40k! Tournament reports are great, but there's nothing quite like a battle report featuring amazingly painted armies (and terrain) and an engaging narrative.

This is the first of your series I've read, and now I want to go back and read them all from the start.

I hope Inquisitous gets spanked by a power fist.

Awesome batrep, the Imperium got obliterated - I'm very much looking forward to the next one.

 Cheexsta wrote:
Now THIS is 40k! Tournament reports are great, but there's nothing quite like a battle report featuring amazingly painted armies (and terrain) and an engaging narrative.

This is the first of your series I've read, and now I want to go back and read them all from the start.

You should, they're golden.