Crossing the Damocles Gulf in an attempt to capture the secessionist Commander Farsight, ethereal Aun'Kais and his fire cast warriors find themselves arrayed against the battlesuits of the erstwhile Tau commander, and his alien auxiliaries. Having set up a forward base of operations, Commander Farsight executes a surprise flanking attack against Aun'Kais' warriors. Will Farsight's attack succeed in repelling the loyalist Tau forces, or will his gambit fail, leading to his capture, and return to the Empire to account for his actions?
Game is Maelstrom of war secret objectives
Armies:
Third Sphere Expansion army (Aun'Kais)
HQ
Ethereal, 2x shield drones
Troops
12x Fire Warriors
12x Fire Warriors
12x Fire Warriors
12x Fire Warriors
12x Fire Warriors
Elites
Crisis Suit, Airburst Fragmentation Launcher, Burst Cannon
Crisis Suit, 2x Fusion Blaster
Riptide, Ion Accelerator,
TL Plasma Gun,
EWO
Fast Attack
5x Pathfinders
5x Pathfinders
4x Pathfinders
Heavy Support
3x Broadsides,
TL Rail Rifle,
SMS
3x Broadsides,
TL HYMP,
SMS
Fortifications
Aegis Defence Line
Tau Farsight army (Still C:TE, not a Farsight Enclaves list)
HQ
Commander Farsight
Bodyguard Team (7): 4x double Burst Cannon, 2x double Fusion Blaster, 1x double Plasma Gun, all with target lock, 14x gun drones
Commander, Iridium Armour, Command & Control Node, Multi-Spectrum Sensor Suite, Drone Controller
Troops
13x Kroot, Kroot hound
13x Kroot, Kroot hound
Elites
Riptide, Ion Accelerator,
SMS
Riptide, Ion Accelerator,
SMS
Deployment
Aun'Kais' forces are deployed in a defensive posture awaiting word of Farsight's location, unknown to them, a massive sneak attack is in the works. (Objectives 1[left], 2[behind
ADL] and 3[in right ruins] are visible)
Aun'Kais keeps his Crisis Suits in reserve
Without warning, a pair of Riptide battlesuits appear on the field, and seize the initiative!! (objectives 6[left], 5[middle] and 4[right] are visible)
Farsight and his bodyguards, as well as his auxiliaries wait for the moment to strike. (Kroot are proxied Fire Warriors)
Farsight Turn 1
Shooting Phase
Both Riptides open up on Aun'Kais' forces, one shot scatters away, the other kills several fire warriors.The shot into the gunline also glances the dilapidated bunker in the rear, giving the 5 pathfinders inside a start.
Due to their selfless dedication to their Ethereal, the fire warriors hold fast.
Assault Phase
The riptides thrust into cover, possibly trying to lure out the loyalist Tau forces.
Aun'Kais Turn 1
Movement Phase
The fire warriors on the right flank advance towards the enemy
Aun'Kais joins the left squad of fire warriors, and the middle ranks advance to replace their fallen comrades.
Shooting Phase
Railsides and shoot at the tan Riptide, with markerlight support, causing a wound.
END OF TURN 1
2-0 for Aun'Kais (Objectives 2&3)
Farsight Turn 2
Movement phase
The Riptides jump out of cover again, as their Kroot auxiliaries arrive into the loyalist flank.
Shooting Phase
The kroot rapid fire into the fire warriors, killing two thirds of the squad; the remaining four warriors fall back towards their comrades. The riptides fire again into the gunline, killing a few fire warriors and penetrating the bunker, causing three casualties for the pathfinders inside.
Aun'Kais Turn 2
Movement phase
The dual fusion suit deep strikes in near objective 4 to secure a an object of considerable tactical value to the cause. The falling back fire warriors regroup.
Shooting Phase
The Kroot are treated to a return barrage of pulse fire and missiles from the missilesides and fire warriors. One squad falls back.
END OF TURN 2
5-0 for Aun'Kais (objective 4, supremacy[2])
Farsight Turn 3
Movement phase
The riptides again jump out of cover, this time moving towards objective 5
Shooting Phase
The Riptides fire upon the railsides, killing one, but still keeping their distance from the massed warriors. The Kroot falling back keep running, the rest fire at the warriors, killing one.
Aun'Kais Turn 3
Movement phase
The final crisis suit arrives on the field near the Kroot (forgot picture)
Shooting phase
The railsides continue to harry the riptides, the newly arrived crisis suit fires into the kroot who were not retreating, inflicting many casualties, but they stood their ground.
Assault Phase
Afterwards, the crisis suit thrusts into the ruins and onto objective 6.
END OF TURN 3
5-1 for Aun'Kais (objective 5 for Farsight)
Farsight Turn 4
Movement Phase
Commander Farsight, his bodyguard team and assistant commander deep strike next to the enemy Riptide battlesuit, but are intercepted by the Riptide's Early Warning Override, which locks on to their orbital insertion signature, and opens fire, killing 13 of the 16 drones, but leaving the Crisis suits unharmed.
The fleeing kroot continue their retreat.
Shooting phase
The few kroot still in the fight open up on the fire warriors, killing them for TURN 4 FIRST BLOOD!!
The dark Riptide kills a few more fire warriors, and damages the bunker, which the pathfinders had fled the turn before. Farsight's squad put some wounds on the riptide, kill three pathfinders, as well as a broadside.
Assualt phase
The tan Riptide, having missed all it's shots on the crisis suit, charges it, but failed to do any damage.
Aun'Kais turn 4
Movement Phase
Invoking the Storm of Fire, the Ethereal commands the fire warriors to meet the enemy who have arrived in their midst.
Shooting phase
Fire is directed at the crisis squad, but without the riptide's guns, little gets past their armour, inflicting non-moral wounds and felling a drone.
Assault Phase
The Crisis Suit engaged by the enemy Riptide again holds it's own in close combat.
END OF TURN 4
6-2 for Aun'Kais (objective 4 for Aun'Kais, first blood for Farsight)
Farsight Turn 5
Movement Phase
The Kroot keep falling back, the dark riptide moves cautiously forward.
Shooting phase
Farsight and friends kill the riptide and the last railside, as well as the patfinders in the ruins, and one missileside.
Assault Phase
The riptide is finally able to kill the crisis suit in his deployment zone.
Aun'Kais Turn 5
Movement phase
Aun'Kais again invokes the Storm of Fire, and the fire warriors rush to close range with the enemy.
The fusion suit ventures out from the ruins to flank a riptide
Shooting Phase
Withering pulse fire cuts down the front rank of crisis suits.
END OF TURN 5
6-3 for Aun'Kais, (Objective 6 for Farsight) but the battle continues!
Farsight Turn 6
Movement phase
The fleeing Kroot finally fall back off the board
Shooting Phase The riptides' fire, combined with the remaining suits manage to cut through a squad of fire warriors and mortally wound Aun'Kais. The nearest squad of fire warriors is also killed.
Assault Phase
Farsight leads his squad behind cover, sending out a drone to pick up a valuable objective in the ruins.
Aun'Kais Turn 6
With their leader slain, the remaining fire warriors try to finish off the injured suits, and kill all but the commander and Farsight, with 1 and 2 wounds remaining respectively.
In a daring move, the two remaining pathfinders near Farsight's unit shoot at the Kroot with their carbines, killing two, and causing the last to fall back.
END OF TURN 6 – GAME OVER - DRAW
9-9 (objective 2, psychological warfare for loyalists, slay the warlord, kingslayer (2), ethereal point, and objective 3 for Farsight. Linebreaker for both)
Outcome
The remaining Third Sphere forces must pull back, as it would be folly to continue without the guidance of their Ethereal. Farsight returns to one of his enclaves, having lost his alien auxiliaries, and all of his bodyguards. His suits are in great need of repair, and he must tend to these concerns before he may again join battle.
Dark Angels 1st, 2nd, 5th, 10th Companies, 
~ 4500 points of Tau
~6500 points of Tyranids: Hive Fleet Niadra
