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My friend Artex (IG) ran a campaign over the last 2 months for me (Scarab Eldar) and my friend J (Dark Angels).  It was an excellent series of battles and I wanted to share the whole campaign and battle reports here.

The Teledan Siren Campaign

The Beginning
Teledan Three is an industrial world on the fringes of Imperial Space. The planet consists of mineral-rich mountains in the center of it’s mass, with plains giving way to violent seas towards it’s outer edges. Not much exists on this world except humans working on agro-farms or in industrial cities struggling to survive. A few hearty beasts walk the wilds in between these centers of living, and few venture off the main Imperial Highway or smuggler back roads.

It wasn’t twenty years ago that an Orc Waaaaaagh! ripped through this section of the galaxy, almost destroying all life in the region. Humans are tough creatures to exterminate though, and Teledan Three began the slow and painful process of repairing itself, making the planet useful to the Imperium once again. Cities are still in mixed stages of usefulness and ruins, while there is but a single spaceport to facilitate trade and incoming traffic. The Planetary Defense Forces are the prime defenders of this rebuilding world, with a few detachments of Imperial Guard to help keep the peace.

Intelligence indicates no major threats in the sector at this time. Although some say that the normally chaotic orcs and their Waaaaaagh! seemed to have more purpose than usual, almost like they were driven, like there was a “siren call”. But with the orcs defeated, most argue that the only thing of value or interested to anyone are minerals and low-grade Imperial machinery…

Teledan Eldar Setup
In an Eldar Warcraft, on the outer edge of the solar system, Nefet stared at the data composed on the data screen in front of her. Indications were that another potentially critical bio-piece was located on Teledan Three, a wild, burned-out ball of a planet. The energy from this artifact could be used to bolster the Scarab Eldar’s efforts to rebuild their power base for future endeavors against those that wronged them. Nefet’s long fingers danced over the computer runes to assess the situation on the planet.

Life-signs indicated mostly human sentient life, with traces here and there of other races hiding deep in the woods and mountains along with feral beasts. Satisfactory. The artifact in question was almost calling to her, singing it’s song across the void of space to where Nefet could feel it in her bones. She closed her eyes and trained her mind on it, studying it as best she could while protecting her precious mind. Yes. This could be vital in their efforts. At worst, it would do to keep it out of the hands of the child-like humans and other alien races. She relayed the information to the Warcraft Captain, who acknowledged Nefet with a nod.

Taking his ship towards the world using the outer planets and space debris as a shield, the Captain maunevered his ship to give the Eldar the best possible position to work towards their objectives. They would have to get around the few ships that already were in orbit around the planet, but that shouldn’t be much trouble for the stealth capabilities of the Warcraft. Now, where to begin operations?

Teledan Space Marines Setup
Captain Faust watched with his usual grimness as the bright side of the planet came into view. The never-ending job of seeking redemption for their Chapter and protecting humanity from future troubles was taking him to this place that few would ever want to travel to of their own free will. Trouble was brewing on this ravaged planet, and the Planetary Defense Forces were not going to be enough if it broke out. Even now, the marines of Captain Faust’s detachment had to employ “strong” means with locals to ferret out the truth of the madness that starting to spread like a plague.

Even before the Waaaaagh! twenty-odd years ago, things began to get a little strange with the settlements. It went long unnoticed and forgotten as time wore on, but the intelligence and stubbornness of a dedicated Space Marine is legendary. Rumor had it that perhaps the forces of Chaos were working their evil designs on Teledan Three. A power was driving men to work well past their endurance and become focused to an unhealthy degree for mere mortals. This power, whether from foul demon or demented men, could not be allowed to take hold. Dark Angel honor and vigilence was at stake here in a world that was under their observation. Hopefully it would be nothing more than some cults, and easily dealth with. With intelligence from the former Commissar, Captain Faust would begin planning the operation. Now, where to begin operations?

+++Sir, the maps you requested. Your faithful servant, K.+++

 

Dark Angels Background
"I still remember the look in his eyes. I could see the hate, the confusion. It was crazed. It wasn't as much of a look as a fluttering. His eyes going back and forth, looking at everyone and no one. He told me what I needed to know and a lot more, as they all do." Faust turned to his First Sargent with a cold look that the Sargent only sees when they have special captives.

Those captives are generally Eldar, Ork, or even true worshipper of the warp. This time, the Commisar will be the that screams out the names in the night just hoping that death will come to him as it did to his entire company. The First Sargent stood motionless as the cloaked figures walked into the room. Obviously Astartes by their stature, they marched single file toward the sealed door. As the first one approached, the door slid open quietly. Captian Faust nodded to the first man as he walked into the room. "Do you know who I am?!" demanded the man tied in the chair. "Yes" responded the first cloaked figure as the door closed after the last of the men walked in. That was the last thing the First Sargent heard, except for the muffled screaming.

Scarab Eldar Background
Nefet’s elegant fingers deftly brushed the dust off the biofact. It was the third she’d uncovered at this depth and segment of the dig. The last two had tested negative. She gazed fixedly at the mineralized skeletal fragment, her brow furrowing, and reached for her biopattern analyzer. With a fluid motion she brought it into contact with the fragment and intoned a prayer to Ra.

***

Nearly a century later and many light-years away, Nefet stood at ready on the blasted earth of the tomb world, the face beneath her helmet unblemished by age. The weight of the years was carried by her heart alone and only a few thin strands of fate kept it from plunging into despair. Before the War, a biopatterner such as Nefet would never have been called upon to bring war to the Necrontyr. But that was over sixty million years ago, recalled only in the crystalline hieraphs.

Nefet turned her lily-like neck and directed her dark irises at the proto-Slann. Her emotions spun in his presence: pride, hope, and a limitless sense of loss. Invoking her psi-training, Nefet forced her mind to focus only on his appearance. He floated, partly cloaked by the condensing warm, moist air that allowed him to survive in this lifeless place. She could picture him in the steaming jungles of Luustor, his green-striped hide glistening like the verdant plant life. That is as long as she blocked out the wires running to his cerebral implants and the sleek blue anti-grav palanquin he sat astride. The cannons at his side floated gently on a cushion of subconscious telekinesis as the proto-Slann’s mind focused elsewhere.

Eyes narrowing as she concentrated, Nefet tried to trace the biopatterns that allowed such a primitive creature to have evolved hundreds of millions of years ago into the mighty Slann, the very Old Ones that had created her people. As she stood lost in her muse, the palanquin rotated slightly and the proto-Slann turned his golden eyes to her. And his mind. The effect was devastating. She shook under the sheer, raw psi-power. With a slow blink of heavy green lids, he his eyes broke away and Nefet doubted no more. The seers were right. They would restore the Slann to their former glory and, with their aid and guidance, banish the soulless Stargods once and for all.

***

The Scarab Eldar, as dubbed by Alcossix Planetary Guard during the Alcossix Theta Campaign, are a unusual breed of Exodites. In the days before the War of the Heavens that pitted the Slann against the Necrontyr and their Stargods, the Scarab Eldar had a very close connection to their Old One/Slann uplifters, serving as guardians of the Slann home world of Luustor. At that time, Luustor was an exotic paradise brimming with life. From this biodiversity many ancient races such the Jokaero had been uplifted by the Slann.

As the Stargods turned the tide against the Slann they directed the Necrontyr to the Slann home worlds, hoping to annihilate them for all time. In the final days of the war, the Scarab Eldar fought valiantly to defend the birth world. Following the strands of fate, the Slann could find but one way that they could save themselves and the galaxy. In the ultimate display of faith in their auguries, the Slann ordered their children, the Scarab Eldar, to leave and fight another day. With sadness, they complied. The Necrontyr razed all life from Luustor, scouring it down to bare rock.

Shortly after the Necrontyr went dormant, the Eldar visited the Luustor and saw that there were only two organisms that survived the purge - a fungus in cracks deep beneath the planet surface, and a hearty beetle that lived on it. Impressed by the beetle's survivability and symbol of life on Luustor, the Eldar adopted a stylized image of the beetle to represent their people.

For the next sixty million years, the Scarab Eldar lived apart from the rest of their kind, only trading occasionally with Craftworlds and Exodites. They waited and remembered, keeping the traditions of the Old Ones alive and staying ready to battle the Necrontyr on their return. Coming from a different uplift stock, and with tens of millions of years to separate them, the Scarab Eldar have many differences from Craftworld Eldar – even physical characteristics such as darker skin and some facial hair on the males. As a result of their distance and differences from their kin, the Scarab Eldar were largely unscathed during the fall of their brethren despite their unusually high numbers of psychers. This great betrayal of the Slanns' trust in uplifting the Eldar was noted and there is little love lost between the Scarab Eldar and others of their kind who do not follow their path.

Now the Necrontyr are arising on a level that the Scarab Eldar know they cannot contend with. Their most brilliant farseer, Rahut, has seen a faint trail for a future that could lead to the rebirth of the Old Ones, and the salvation of the Galaxy. Returning to Luustor, the Scarab Eldar began to search for the biopatterns of the Slann and other races that had been their allies in ancient days. If they could find complete patterns, they could use their biopsionics to create new, living creatures. Sadly, the scouring was thorough and nothing was found. In this dark hour despair threatened to break million-year resolve. Even in this darkness, Rahut saw a glimmer of hope on their path, and, redoubling their efforts, the Eldar looked within the rock itself for biopatterns. After years of painstaking work they found what they were looking for - the biopatterns of the forbearers of the races that had become the Slann, the Jokaero, and other ancient allies.

With the Scarab Eldar’s biopsionics, the Slann have been reborn, but in a more primal state - needing help and uplifting from their former children. The Scarab Eldar are working as fast as they can to return the proto-Slann to their former glory even as they fight the Necrontyr on every front possible.

Teledar Space Marines Initial Moves
Having moved down to the main Space Marine camp outside the agro-farms on the plains separating the storm-plagued coast from the treacherous mountains, the Dark Angels were preparing for operations with their normal somber efficiency. This location was central, just off the main highway that looped into the mountains and along the coast. A ruined city lay just to the west, some graves and farms lay in the immediate area, and to the east began the mining operations of Teledar Three.

Sergeant Dawkins had recently been put in charge of the 4th squad in the Company and was striving to make sure that everything was in place. Weapons needed to be checked, vehicles prepared, tactics reviewed in order to be fully ready for the upcoming mission. All that was needed was a destination. Sergeant Dawkins moved away from his squad and marched steadily towards the nearly full command bunker. Today the Captain would announce where they were headed. It was the duty of a marine to be prepared for any eventuality. It was the duty of a Dark Angel to be even better than that. As he entered the well-lit bunker, brimming with lights and displays to make a normal man’s head swim, he stood at ease and prepared for the Captain’s briefing. Where would they head?

A) Head off towards the ruined city in the West where the Imperial Guard have a presence. Rumors and information taken from the Imperial Commissar indicate that this once bustling city was a major source of war machinery, and was a fierce point of Imperial activity before and after the way. Odd that it hasn’t been fully rebuilt yet but is the location of so much activity.

B) Explore the surrounding area to confirm it is secure. Rumors from local folk “interrogated” indicate that there are remnants of Orcs and creatures in the area that insist on capturing and raiding tombs of those laid to rest. Why Orcs would be interested in dead humans is very puzzling.

C) Head off towards the mines in the East. Rumors and information taken from local transmissions indicate that the miners are working themselves to death. While not unusual on an Imperial world, it seems that they are doing so of their own volition and not with the usual zeal of the overseers. Drive and determination are one thing, but this would seem to be insanity.

Teledan Space Marines Advance
Sergeant Dawkins moved with the grace and power of a trained space marine, leading his combat squad towards the outskirts of the ruined city. Well-trained scouts had marked the PDF pickets well, and the poor training of the planet defenders left gaping holes in the approach from the plains. The dark green of the space marines power-armor was a good camouflage against the mix of concrete and nature trying to reclaim its territory.

Dawkins had overheard the Captain talking about their mission objectives. Secrets were things to be kept from outsiders, not brothers in arms. Knowledge was power, and Dark Angels were very good at what they do. They would work their way into the city, attempt to locate any signs of Chaos on the outskirts, and withdraw back to the fortified encampment on the plains.

Attempts to contact and work with the Imperial Guard here had gone poorly. Worse than that, the company stationed here was downright hostile to the presence of the Emperor’s finest. While not unusual in the vastness that is the Imperium, it contributed to the growing intelligence reports that something very wrong was happening on Teledan Three, and needed to be found and corrected. The planet was too valuable to the Imperial Cause to “cleanse”, so surgical strikes would have to do. So as the advance force snakes towards the ruins, red with the glow of furnaces burning and the hum of machinery turning, Sergeant Dawkins prepares his forces. They would be going in, and going in hot.
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+++Sir, the following disturbing images came up in a routine aeriel scan. All other copies have been destroyed. Your faithful servant, K.+++

Teledan Space Marines First Battle
(Results not known to Eldar forces – they are busy elsewhere)

As Sergeant Dawkins withdrew with his squad back towards the lines from the stunned Imperial Sentinel, he surveyed the situation. The order to withdraw had been issued, and even now he could see Imperial reinforcements storming towards the city from the coast. The advance guard had not achieved their mission, but staying would have been suicide. As he boarded the waiting Rhino, he wondered what their next move would be.

The struggle was valiant, but valiant wasn’t what the Dark Angel was used to. He was used to success. His squad had provided cover for the advancing squads, and managed to have his squad survive and accomplish their squad objective. The primary objective was to advance into the western part of the ruined city of Talinus and find the source of the strange compulsions, searching the ruins and rebuilt buildings before the Imperials could summon reinforcements. The Dark Angels had tried reason. Now they would use force.

The initial contact had led to the total annihilation of the Imperial conscripts, and the assault was under way. The left flank ran into the Imperial depot area, doing a quick sweep for signs of the chaos manifestation. Finding nothing but a couple of old Leman Russ tanks sitting unused, they proceeded forward. The center forces and cover squad trailed behind.

On the right flank, four squads of marines marched forward to do battle, including a feared devastator squad. They ran headlong into a group of enraged Ogryns, interrupted in their game of punch-arm. The Ogryns fired their ripper guns into the first Dark Angel squad, then charged them, using their huge weapons as clubs. The Ogryns pulverized the squad, then proceeded to shoot and assault two more after that. The marines managed to kill 4 out of the 5 beasts, but the Ogryns took out two complete battle squads and left only one Dark Angel alive in the third squad. Fourteen marines who would never serve the chapter again. The support squad with Captain Faust crushed the PDF squad in front of them, only to be blasted to near defeat by a waiting Chimera and support squad behind it. The advance on the right, towards the communications buildings, was stopped for the moment.

Only in the center, where the elite First Squad stormed forward supported by Sergeant Dawkin’s squad did the Dark Angels find success. They managed to search a variety of buildings, destroying squad after squad of PDF forces as they methodically went about their business, typical of Dark Angels. The Imperials were no match for the brutal marines, who in hand-to-hand just mowed through them as if they were ripe wheat waiting to be cut and harvested. The main body moved along, searching a burned out command center, then on towards a heavily defended temple. They encountered fierce resistance from the inside, as lasguns and autocannons opened up, killing a few marines. The wrath of the Dark Angels was terrible to behold once their attention was earned. The trained killers marched towards the temple, firing bolters and flamers into the shattered windows, killing almost half the defenders before they knew what hit them. The marines increased their killing frenzy when they discovered the immense power coming from the damaged structure! Instructions had just been issued to focus all attention when time ran out. On the edge of the city, Imperial transports could be seen rushing towards the area at high speed. There was no more time. The Dark Angels had to withdraw.

The Dark Angels were not able to complete their mission. That fact put Captain Faust in a dark mood of a depth that was unusual even for those that knew him well. Although they know something is in there, they could not confirm what it was, or even if it was the source of power. Simply that something was very wrong. Encountering Ogryns was not itself unusual, but along with such a mix of unusual troop types, including a psycher in a PDF force, indicates something amiss. The Dark Angels would continue their search, and would achieve their objective. All indications now were that cooperation from fellow Imperials would not be forthcoming. They would have to do what Dark Angels do so well. Use brutal, overwhelming force.
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Teledan Eldar First Moves
As the silent Eldar Warcraft moved into the shadows of the planet, they prepared for descent. The bio-information had been confirmed, and the data sent and received by the Farseer and Captain. Further scans clearly showed a large Imperial contingent on the ground, with a few support ships in orbit above Teledan Three as the humans called the planet. Imperial Guard, Space Marines, and local human militia wormed their way across the scarred surface. Readings indicate an Imperial entrenchment in the cities and up around the mine areas, with Space Marines in the middle around the agro-farms and wild areas. Bio-scans put the artifact in this area of the planet, but due to its nature, the scanners are unable to pinpoint the exact location. Where to put down operations was the next step for command.

Ok Scarab, just for fluff and setup for the future. The space around the ruins on the coast are swarming with Imperial forces and humans. Too tough for a discrete landing. So your choices are:

A) Land in the northern pains area. Smoother landings, and far enough away from the Dark Angels (in the south) you don’t have to worry about immediate confrontation. This offers the widest range for movement but greatest chance of detection.

B) Land in the mountains. There are enough ridges and plateaus to land your shuttles and set up a base. Maximum protection from Imperial discovery of that base, but on one edge. Great if the artifact is up there, not so good if it’s not.

Eldar Background
Rahut studied the glowing runes that danced before him looking for the truth they held. Today the runes wanted to fight, perhaps a psycho-sympathetic response to his own battle preparations. Deepening his concentration he bent the runes to the task at hand and studied the divination.

He turned to athe assembled Warlocks. "The runes have spoken, carry the message of our destination to the Shipmaster and may Ra guide us."

Teledan Imperial Guard - Day One Morning
It was now a relative quiet in the command bunker in Talinus City. Most of the troops had been returned to their duties, and Colonel Manu stared out a concrete-plast window at the still smoldering areas of this city section. “What had those damn Space Marines been thinking” he wondered to himself. He couldn’t shake them from his mind. The Colonel found that since coming to this planet, once his mind got a hold of something, it wouldn’t let go for what seemed like an eternity. So why those dark green soldiers had smashed into his area was a mystery to him.

He whirled on his heels and as he tugged at the hem of his black Guard jacket and straightened his pointed officers' cap, headed out the door into the night air, smoky and oppressive that it might be. The marines had managed to attack at dawn and destroy almost three quarters of his force before reinforcements hastily called in arrived to force a retreat. He walked briskly down the rubble-filled street past the carnage. Bodies were being taken to be incinerated, and that was no easy task when talking about bulky Ogryns as well as men.

The enemy, for that is what they were now, had been searching for something, although Colonel Manu couldn’t figure out what for the life of him. They had gone in and out of buildings very methodically, searching the Ogryn pen, Auto Pool, old Command Bunker, and a burned out building before turning their attention to the Emperor’s new shrine. Thank the Emperor they didn’t get in there to do more damage than they did. As it was, what had been a recently renovated shrine, rebuilt since that unknown explosion that shredded the insides, was pockmarked with bolt-holes, plasma holes, and flamer burns. There was no telling how long it would take before they could get to work on it again.

The workers were focusing like madmen on rebuilding the city from the coast inland, straining to get the old forges and foundries back up and running. They also needed to secure the main highway to get those minerals down from the mines, which were constantly under pressure to produce. The last thing they needed was some damn fool marines on some grudge-mission destroying more of the city. There were enough quakes, Orc raids, and beast attacks on convoys and farms to last a lifetime. “After all,” the Colonel muttered to himself as he completed his loop of the ruined area, “what else could happen?”

Teledan Day One – Afternoon
There was no rest for the weary thought “Prophet” Bains. He had to have those weapons to continue their fight. If they could get enough weapons or valuables from careless inhabitants of this burned-out hell, his group might be able to barter or force their way off this miserable planet. It was all they could think about. Escape for he and his “Chosen”. A motley collection of humans and creatures left to rot or die on this planet. Oh, sometimes they didn’t get along as old prejudices raged, but the Prophet had managed to convince them to turn their energies to a common goal – for the most part. So far they had managed to hit small, lightly guarded convoys and robbed the graves and tombs of those citizens and beings (race didn’t matter to this bunch) of items they were buried with. The “Chosen” of Teledan Three would succeed in their work. The whispering that talked to him when he slept had promised him…

<!-- google_ad_section_end -->Teledan Day One - Night
The night sky of Teledan was a blackness broken up by the dark red glow of fires that burned continuously in various parts of the scarred world. The mountain mines were a symphony of noise and color as miners worked with feverish devotion twenty-eight hours a day. Trees and grass regularly caught ablaze from marauding bandits and orcs still left to pillage on the plains. The cities were now being reinforced by planetary defenses in case they came under attack again, interrupting their work.

The Fire Prism hummed like a constant roll of thunder across the landscape as it disembarked from the landing craft. Eldar Guardians moved with grace and precision as they formed up into their respective fire teams as they made their way to the assembly area. Farseer Rahut looked over his datapad, noting the positions of the various forces across Teledan Three. He turned to his war council to discuss the next move.

Captain Faust was not in a good mood. Although the initial foray could be termed a partial success, that was simply not good enough for a Dark Angel. Five combat squads were wiped out, although Imperial casualties were much higher. They had discovered an energy output in the rebuilt temple in the city, but couldn’t determine what it was or if it was the source they were looking for. Added to that was increasing reports that the plains were becoming increasingly more dangerous and the mountains were becoming unstable as well. Bandits on this planet had access to hardware left behind by Imperials and Orcs alike. Something would have to be done. He ordered full mobilization.

Day Two Choices
Ok Scarab, J. Here are your respective army’s choices for their next moves. Don’t sweat the big stuff, or worry about how your forces will meet. Just think based on fluff and campaign objectives – what would your forces do? We’ll go from there tomorrow night, just let me know in advance so I can plan. Thanks!

Eldar:
A) Maintaining secrecy was key. The Eldar should send out smaller, although well-armed patrols to minimize exposure while they search for the artifact. This way the Eldar would have more time to search should they remain hidden from Imperial Forces.
B) The threat of the Dark Angels was too great to ignore. Left to their own devices, they might blunder into the Eldar operation and do some serious damage. They had to be dealt with first and foremost. A swift, heavy lighting attack on them to try a knockout punch was the most effective strategy.
C) The war council has decided that the surrounding area must be top priority. Full mobilization would be the quickest and safest way to achieve their goals in the region they landed. The search effort must commence immediately, even at the risk of alerting all on the planet to their presence. Hopefully it would be found quickly and they could leave.

Dark Angels:
A) The Dark Angels would spend a little more time securing the area first. Things looked liked they were becoming unhinged all around the Marine camp in the Southern Plains. They needed to secure the Imperial highway and agro-farms first. Ensuring their position and the fastest means of movement for future operations would lay a solid foundation. After all, even Captain Faust had to concede they might be here a while now.
B) Captain Faust wasn’t too worried about his camp. They were Dark Angels, and although the Guard put on a good showing, he felt the defenses were secure enough. Plus he felt that few would dare attack a Dark Angels convoy openly on this backwards planet. What worried him were the continued reports of activity in the wilds of the agro plains and the volatility of the mountain region. Those reports were similar to the initial ones about Talinus City. Perhaps it was time to send forces north along the highway and check out the lower mountain region. This was an Imperial world after all, and the minerals must flow.
C) There was no excuse and no time to waste. They had found something in the city of Talinus, and they needed to go back and finish the task. This time it would be full mobilization since the PDF and Guard knew the Dark Angels were around. They would get their answer, or level the city trying. The faster they ended this the better.

If you want to add fluff to the Campaign thread, feel free to do so. As always, let me know if you have anything you’d like to see or want me to add/subtract. Given enough time, I can be flexible. Given little time, I’ll explain my reasons for keeping the course. Fair enough?

Eldar Background
Rahut looked at the faces of the assembled counsel. Their faces reflected his resolve. He raised his hand in salute and turned toward the warhost. This was but a small thread in a great tapestry woven so long ago by the Slann.

The fate of the mon-keigh was sealed before they ever crawled from rotten wilderness that spawned them.

Teledan Day Two Dawn:
The Swooping Hawks hovered mere feet above the landscape, a flash here and there to any casual observer as they led the scouting forces in a search for the bio-artifact. The Eldar forces moved with haste across the broken ground towards their designated individual objectives. Those with extraordinary psi-powers accompanied the force, stretching out their abilities to help aid and narrow the hunt.

They anticipated token resistance from bands or packs of creatures, perhaps human defense forces. Nothing they couldn’t handle in short order, especially with the Dark Angels preparing for a massive operation according to intelligence. It wasn’t hard to follow the thinking of a Dark Angel, at least not to a centuries-experienced Farseer like Rahut.

This should be a quick and encompassing operation for the Eldar forces, hitting the main areas of habitation from their secret landing site and retrieving what they came for. Then they could summon the Warcraft and depart this planet to continue their greater mission of righting the wrongs of the past…

Teledan Day Two Mid-Day Battle Report:
It started out as a day like any other for the miners and single PDF squad sent to protect them from wandering creatures. Then the hells opened up and swallowed all we knew. From the north came fantastic creatures called Eldar, their blue uniforms and transports came spitting death over the horizon. A rumble we all assumed was nothing more than seismic activity or perhaps distant thunder was our warning. As miners began to run to the mines for protection, and our squad ran to the high ground trees for protection, a powerful voice screaming like metal grating as it screamed “WAAAAAAGH! “

I don’t have much time for this report, Sir. They’re still out there. We did all we could, by the Emperor I swear it! We had no chance, but we took out a number of the aliens as we could, we can’t be faulted! Because I have had this strong compulsion to study and write lately, let me share with you what I know before I become some alien’s meal…

Eldar Guardians stormed over the mountain’s ridges and towards the mining camps, looking for something. Hell knows what they were after since we’ve been mining in this location for months and still haven’t found a thing. Anyways, right after they appeared, they shot to bloody corpses a group of miners that were trying to flee into the safety of the mines. Two other groups of miners saw this, and began running to their mine areas too. Neither made it.

For on the other side, almost like the two mythical beasts were on a collision course, a mighty host of Orcs came screaming over the south hill. A mighty shout went up from the beasts as they surged forward, a mass of green with a red track vehicle and a very odd tank. A single missile flew from them and smashed into an Eldar Wave Serpent, immobilizing it in a one-in-a-million shot! They pressed forward as they overrun a group of miners, slaughtering them where they stood.

Our squad bunkered down in the trees, right in the middle of the fray. We opened fire and took out 5 Eldar troops. We were sure that would be the end of us, but the fanatical devotion to the battle of both sides seemed to make us invisible. We thought we had a chance.

Storm Guardians opened fire with their terrible weapons, shredding a squad of Orc Kammandos. Dire Avengers hit a group of orc Boyz and force them to run away towards their captured tank. A Wave Serpent sends a beam of intense fire into an Orc truck, destroying it. The fleeing Orcs were then cut down by a group of Warp Spiders that splashed down in a hot spring next to the Boyz.

The Orcs and Eldar just keep shooting at each other, as Guardians and Boyz exchange fire and volleys throughout the horrible battle… still ignoring us as we take out 3 Orcs.

A group of Swooping Hawks tear down right into (by a gross overshot one can only assume) a snarling group of Boyz already angry and charging towards the Guardians. They don’t last 10 seconds as the Boyz tear and rend them limb from limb in perhaps the most horrifying display of savagery I’ve seen.

That single fleeing Orc in his panic manages to kill a Warp Spider. Amazing what fear will do. That mangled tank shoots again at the Wave Serpent, bouncing off the tough armor. We manage to kill 4 more Orcs.

The Warp Spiders, not even noticing the loss of one of their own, shoot the Orc tank in the rear, sending it to the scrap yard in a ball of fire and shrapnel. The Orcs complete their charges, slamming into two Guardian Squads with full fury. The Eldar manage to take out a few, but are wiped out of existence. The tall Eldar, the one who seemed to be directing their forces on their quest, was torn in two by a powerful Warboss claw. Oh man, the Eldar seemed to be stunned by that, and that spelled the squad’s demise.

I’m not sure at this point who I’m cheering for. We hope they take each other out before they notice us.; We keep shooting, directing fire as directed by the Sergeant. We open up with everything we have, and manage to kill the remaining two orcs near us, AND THEIR WARBOSS! YES! We may live! Both leaders seem to be out of it. We let up a cheer and a few backs were pounded in congratulations. Too soon… too soon.

The second group of Boyz, seeing the death of their Boss, charge towards us and not even the trees and ramparts we built slow them down. They tear and kill and maim till nothing is left but me. The only reason I survive is cause I fell into a ditch when we started falling back, and two dead and dismembered miners who made it to the woods with us fell on top of me. I dared not move.

The Eldar disable the Orc Canz, and seem to find what they are looking for. Guardians pour out the back of a Wave Serpent to the north of us, search the trees briefly, then scramble back into their transport and punch it into high gear back to wherever those demons came from. The orcs, seeing no more targets because the Eldar withdrew, begin looking for other victims to kill. Their bloodlust seems insatiable. I slip away, using the hills and trees as cover. I’m still not far, I can hear their grunts and screams. I’m not sure how much longer I can transmit, for in the mountains, I may not be reached. But I am determined to +\_________________
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Here are some pics from the battle:



Above you can see the massed Eldar against the massed Orcs. In the middle at the top of the hill are the Imperial Guard. The silver figures here and there are "miners". Stats as per conscripts. At very bottom are Kommandoz next to the miners.



Above is the immobilized Wave Serpent from that lucky Orc missile shot. Orcs rolling up the miners too.



Warp Spiders splashing down in the water, surviving the Boyz attack. The Wave Serpent here and the Spiders take out the Boyz, the truck, and the tank. They go on to capture their objective and get their hands on what they were looking for. It was a fun battle, very back and forth, good shots, and a lot of luck. Very fun, it came down to the last turn, and both leaders were killed (severly wounded if you will). I think everyone enjoyed! <!-- google_ad_section_end -->

Teledan Day Two Night - Eldar:
The Eldar don’t cry. But they were concerned as they carefully moved the recovered body of their Farseer, Rahut, into the bio-recovery chamber. He was dead by human standards, but the Eldar themselves, as well as their technology was more advanced than that. It would take a few days to bring Rahut back up to full strength, but in the meantime, life and movement would return in as little as a day.

Nefet looked with what might have been fascination at the object before her. It looked like nothing more than a meteorite piece. A hunk of rock. It didn’t take her extraordinary senses to know that this rock was special. She had been staring at it for hours after the examination was complete. This wasn’t the artifact, but it’s composition acted like an amplifier for the raw power of it. Taking data from this warp-rock, and adding it to what they know of activity on this planet, as well as Space Marine movement, she shared her findings with the war council, letting them know where the Eldar stood on their mission. It was up to them to determine the next move.

Teledan Day Two Night – Space Marine:
“Sir. You’ll want to see this.” The communications Officer approached Captain Faust with the datapad, holding it out for him to take. Faust looked at him through the helmet visor, willing himself not to snap at the Officer. They were loaded up and ready to scream towards the city of Talinus and crush resistance there so they could locate the source of the infestation. But he also knew that Dark Angels don’t interrupt unless it was important. Slowly, and very deliberately, he took hold of the datapad and read.

The datapad shattered as the power armor took his already considerable fist and turned it into a wrecking machine, shattering the small piece of equipment. An intercepted transmission from a Guard unit in the mountains had reached the marines. There were Eldar in those hills. Eldar. They could only be here for some insidious purpose, and where Eldar was, trouble followed. Captain Faust gave his orders to the communications Officer, who then saluted and hurried off to inform the assembled and waiting Dark Angels.
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Eldar Background
Rahut opened his eyes, noticing the pain in his body, but at the same time separating his consciousness from it. No one had promised that fate would be kind or even that it was his successes that would lead to its conclusion. It could as easily be his failure. The thought was both painful and reassuring. He closed his eyes and directed his mind to consider who would replace him until he was again fit to serve.

***

Sepha glided quickly down the hall reviewing a myriad possible scenarios and a strategy to meet each. At the same time, she briefed the Exarchs though the datalink. They would work in synchronisity.

That done, she thought of the advice from Rahut and his millenia spanning plans. He was the future and the past. Sepha opened the portal to her waiting wargear. She was now. <!-- google_ad_section_end -->

+++Sir, intercepted before and after pictures from the action on the hightway. Yours Faithfully, K+++

View of the Eldar coming in to hit the side of the Dark Angels. The Eldar were there to kill as many Dark Angels as possible. The Dark Angels were there to get off the board in the direction of the Imperial Guard to "Catch up" to the main attack force. You can see two of the three Imperial Sentinals to the left, one in the trees for cover.

Staged view of the end of the battle. The Dark Angels Terminators about to get off the table edge (they did), with smoking Leman Russ tanks around them as both combatants knocked the hell out of them. However, one lone Sentinel managed to live, even attempting one more shot at the rear of the Eldar! (No effect. DOH!)

Teledan Day Three Afternoon:

+++Imperial Message from Sentinel Squadleader+++

Sir, good news and bad news to report. The Space Marine reinforcements were slowed down as ordered. However, we have a new problem as the Eldar are here on our planet.

As we set up across the road, the Dark Angels rushed toward us from the north. All of a sudden, Eldar tanks charged the Dark Angels' flanks, and battle ensued!

Eldar Fire Prisms opened fire into the Dark Angels, sending a few of those tough marines into oblivion. The Angels respond in kind with the heavy weapons they carry, smashing into the Eldar tanks and rocking the crews. It took them a while to recover. Our three sentinels raced for cover, shooting at the Dark Angels with our auto-cannons. I swear Sir, the rounds just bounced off their armor!

I noticed a flash of light as I maneuvered my Sentinel into a better position. Two Eldar squads appeared out of nowhere behind the Angels and took out six before they could react.
Those tanks of theirs tore into two more squads, wiping them out. Those Eldar are tricky, savage creatures!

The Dark Angels aren't without their own savagery though, Sir. As our Sentinels continued to fire away and be ineffective against that damn Space Marine armor, our Leman Russ' arrived and opened fire on the Eldar tanks, we managed to stun one. With that opening, the Dark Angels opened fire with a dazzling array of firepower from their Predator and squads alike, smashing a Fire Prism tank into the ground with a thunderous crash! They also took out a number of those deep striking troops, and unfortunately blew the assault cannon off of Sentinel Two.

The Fire Prism opened fire with a huge shot of light, melting the laser cannons right off the Predator! I've never seen such determination in beings. The Dark Angels continue their advance toward us with minimal thought to our blockade or the Eldar attack force. The Eldar seem totally focused on killing the Dark Angels!

Sir, the final moments of the battle can be recounted in this summary: About half the Dark Angles made it through to their lines. A skimmer, a whole bunch of terminators, and that predator all are headed your way. The other half was incinerated by the Eldar, who turned their attention to us. Of the three Leman Russ tanks and the three Sentinels, only I survived by luck of being on the outside flank and not being the object of their focus.

Sir. Prepare the defenses. You have trouble coming. Trouble in the colors of dark green and sky blue.

+++END IMPERIAL MESSAGE+++

Teledan Day Four Morning - Eldar:
Rahut sat in the moving command vehicle, looking stronger than he had the day before. He was surrounded by his war council and Sepha, the warrior who had led the previous successful mission. He nodded at her in a "job well done". There was no need for the words - she knew.

After they had cleared the battlefield of humans, Sepha had been drawn to a particular grove of trees where a burning sentinel lay in ruins. She directed her Guardians to search the woods. They initially found nothing, but they kept searching and searching, sure something was there. In time, they found a stone buried deep under the roots of a tree that hummed with power that a psycher could feel. They loaded it into the research craft accompanying the column to the rear, and Nefet and her team went to work.

Hours later, they had their answer. Talinus. The more pieces they had, the stronger the pull in a specific direction. She had informed Rahut, and they began to make preparations. The humans would have to be dealt with, but they should pose no real problems she thought. Soon. Soon they would have what they needed - another piece of the puzzle in reclaiming what was their birthright.

Teledan Day Four Morning - Dark Angels
Captain Faust read the report from his rear guard. His planning had payed off, although the losses were far greater than he had thought initially. The Eldar had come after them, but they were prepared and managed to slow down their adversaries. With luck, that would allow them to reach the city first.

The column of Dark Angels sped down the highway toward the ruined city of Talinus. Orders had been issued, and the combat squads would do their duty. Good men, all of them. No time for subtlety now. They would storm in and complete their mission. They would find the cause of the mind-focusing effects or they would blow the hell out of everything around it. Either way, this ended here and now. <!-- google_ad_section_end -->

Teledan Day Five Evening
Commissar Absoll looked over the smoking ruins of the Imperial Temple, sight of the largest battle Teledan Three had seen in almost 20 years. Not much was left in the area except melted and blasted chunks or rocks and flesh. Flesh from Eldar, Marines, and Imperial troops. That was very evident as he stepped over the half-corpses that used to be Colonel Manu and his mangled staff. It was only the massive rush of Imperial Reinforcements to the area that had sent the Dark Angels and Eldar into retreat. Commissar barely remembered the call, simply that he must get here with all haste and secure the area. Veteran though he might be, he still couldn't figure out why this hunk of twisted rock was so important.

After the first attack by the treacherous space marines, they had started clearing the area of rubble and sent in a PDF platoon, some conscripts, a few sentinels, and two Leman Russ tanks to secure the small area of city blocks. They figured the Dark Angels got what they wanted, whatever that was, and left. They were gravely wrong.

Commissar Absoll had just come from interrogating the lone Sentinel driver who had managed to live. He had survived two battles so far, and that in itself was suspicious to the Commissar. From the northern Highway came the Eldar, their tanks and terrifying creatures hurtling down on them. From the southern Highway came the Dark Angels, catching the Imperial Guard detachment in between. It was a massacre. Using the smoke and pollution of the city, along with a dawn raid, the two forces caught the PDF forces in between, crushing them in a matter of minutes. A few scattered men had run away from the carnage, and would be dealt with later.





The Leman Russ tanks were blown apart early on, and never managed to fire off a shot. The Dark Angels stormed in, assaulting the Guardsmen as soon as they were able, shredding them while only losing a meager few. From the other side came the Eldar, weapons of light streaking toward the surrounded troops and burning them where they stood. The only confusion from the reports are a huge flash of bright and twisted lights at the start of the battle, when the Eldar leader raised his arms towards the sky and then vanished in a spectacular event. This hardly even slowed down their warriors though, and the slaughter continued. When the PDF forces were no more, a struggle of titans occurred around the Imperial Temple.






The Unholy Eldar Avatar then stormed the temple, claiming it for the Eldar forces. Triumph seemed to be theirs till a shimmer in the warp opened up and Captain Faust of the Dark Angels appeared with his terminator Command Squad!

Captain Faust and his squad managed to take out a number of Eldar in the temple with them, bringing the ancient structure down around them in a hail of broken rocks and steel. Valiant though the effort was, the Avatar ripped through Captain Faust, sending him broken and bleeding through the walls of the temple, presumed to be crushed by the assault. His squad died with him by all reports.



Letting out a war cry the Avatar and the Eldar around him seemed once again sure of accomplishing their goals. Their cry was cut short when a squad of assault marines took to the air at extreme range with their jumpacks, crashing into the temple and ensuring a melee. blades whirled, guns barked, and human and Eldar alike were cut down in the vicious assault. The Avatar suffered even greater wounds, while the Dark Angels lost even more of their number. Both forces closed around the temple, shooting at targets as they presented themselves.



Both forces fought extremely well, forcing each to confront each other in close quarters fighting thought Commissar Absoll. Shame they had to pick the planet he was assigned to. Now things would have to get personal. These forces MUST be driven off Teledan Three. He would need the full cooperation of the Ravenna experimental Legion XXX that hovered in space. The only good piece of news for the Imperium was the droop squad of veterans that managed to land close to target and immobilize one of the Eldar tanks. Melta guns at close range in a surprise attack was certainly a good tactic. Perhaps it was time to station new troops on the planet. Yes. The invaders had to go... <!-- google_ad_section_end -->

Eldar Background
Rahut knew his escape into the webway just ahead of the warp's hungry maw had been lucky. With the ripples of power created by the Avatar of Ra magified by the artifact, the warp had been too unsettled and he had failed to control it. Now he was worlds away from his people in their time of need. He quickened his stride down the extradimensional tunnel he traveled.

Sepha had observed the battle from the command Falcon, Thenel, far above the city. It was she who had seen the approaching tide of mon-keighs and their crude tanks and signaled the withdrawal. With Rahut missing the war counsel had chosen her to plan the final assault. Her heart overran with pride and grief in equal measure, but she had no choice but to press on. To win. <!-- google_ad_section_end -->

Teledan Day Seven Morning - Eldar
Sepha sat in the Command Falcon pondering her choices. The Eldar could be both patient and quick at the same time. They simple needed some time to regroup and sort out their options. They knew they had time for they were fairly certain that the humans did not know what it was they were fighting for. And knowledge was power. All they had to do was know how and when to use it...

Teledan Day Seven Morning - Dark Angels
First Sgt Dawkins sat in the Rhino assigned to his squads. He had been given a second squad since the battle in Telinus. Forces on the ground were still focused, if a bit battered. They had taken out a number of aliens, as well as make sure that whatever was in that temple driving people insane, it was now molten slag. The Dark Angels had withdrawn to their base camp, waiting for the new Commander to make his decision on how to proceed. No word yet on the condition of Captain Faust, although all hoped he survived the glorious assault he and his squad made! Surely it would make its way to the annuls of the great Chapter book...

Teledan Day Seven Morning - Imperial
Sentinel Pilot Akbad was now assigned to transport duty. They were to move as many of the broken and smashed artifacts, statues, and carvings from the demolished temple to an old abandoned site till they could be reused. Although worshiping the Emperor was always on a good human's mind, it was not the top priority on this planet. He only hoped he lived to see the rebuilding of the temple.

Commissar was a position with very few peers or superiors in the Imperium. Although most were not battlefield commanders, it was a poor Imperial servant that did not follow a Commissar's - recommendations. So it was with a serious frown that Commissar Absoll read the dispatch that was handed to him by the techpriest. Yes, things had gotten out of hand and now it was time to remedy the situation. In the next day or two, a considerable force would join the Ravenna XXX Legion in space overhead. Then they would storm the planet and expunge the trespassers. If this planet wasn't a ruin before hand, it had the potential to get massively out of hand. <!-- google_ad_section_end -->

Dark Angel Background
Interrogator Chaplin Marius knew his orders and they were very specific. Retrieve the artifact and withdraw his unit. Captian Faust would cover his withdrawl.

Marius could see the battle from his vantage point, feeling the synth-adrenaline running through his viens. Then it happenned, his signal. Captian Faust's Command squad landed. He started his assault.

As he fired his jump pack and crested the wall of the building, he saw the sword of the Eldar's Stone God strike down Faust. He repressed his feelings as he could only watch the command squad get torn appart by the eldar. His anger and hatred grew as he engaged the Avatar in what he knew could be a fatal battle. Locked in what could be his written as one of his most epic battles ever, a report from the advanced scouts came over the comm. The guard were sending an armored column for re-enforcements.

"Recover the gene-seed!" He commanded. His squad and the other Angels in the battle knew this was the call for a withdrawl. Without question, they began their tactical retreat. As he pulled out, he could see that the eldar knew what was comming as well.

His orders were clear at this point, with Captian Faust having fallen in battle, his next move was pre-dertmined. Thunderhawks began to land and pull the remaing ground troops off the planet. Marius's strike force was to do whatever was needed to make sure that the artifact was not to fall into eldar hands.

His strike team knew it too as they watch the Thunderhawks in a high atmosphere oribit, out of range of the eldar attack ships, but in perfect range for one thing. Bombardment. <!-- google_ad_section_end -->

Teledan Three Day Seven Afternoon - Pre Battle Report
It was a hot and humid day, even for Teledan Three. Imperial priests had requested the remains of the shattered temple be moved to an old bunker complex that was off the beaten path for storage. Nobody was sure what the two invading forces were after, but it had ruined several structures and cost many lives.

Teledan Three Day Seven Afternoon - Imperial
Unfortunately, with the loss of several key military people on the ground, things were in flux. The pieces of the temple reached the complex before the main protection force could catch up. Realizing this, Commissar Absoll pushed the men in his group to their limits to reach the bunkers before the enemy got there...

Sentinel Pilot Akbad counted himself lucky to be alive. He had thus far survived two encounters with aliens and marines, and was counting his duty to protect the bunker till the main force arrived as something of a stroke of good luck. He was out of the way of the infernal city which the Space Marines seemed intent on destroying, and no longer in the sights of Commissar Absoll. Yes, although this was a punishment, he counted himself among the content.

Teledan Three Day Seven Afternoon - Dark Angel
Sgt Dawkins knew this one counted. They had deduced that the cause of the crazed focus on the planet was somehow from a piece or pieces of the old Temple. Orders had come down from on high - they would destroy everything in their path. Nothing was to be spared. Dawkins grimly thought of Captain Faust who had given his life for the Chapter mission, and how different things were under the temporary command of Interrogator Chaplin Marius. Dawkins didn't have to talk to his squad to know they all felt the same way. They would be glad when their mission was completed, their honor satisfied, and they could return to space. If they failed - bombardment from above to cleanse the entire area. He hoped to be long gone by then.

Teledan Three Day Seven Afternoon - Eldar
Nelundu danced his slender fingers over the directional controls of the large Falcon. It was a mighty vehicle in the hands of the right crew, and as a Scarab Eldar, he had many human lifetimes of experience in guiding his craft. Nelundu knew why they were here, and considered it the highest priority to win back the station of his people. They would swoop into the bunker complex. Find the lost artifact, then wait for the drop ships to pick them up. All they had to do was hold off any human forces that attempted to stop them. Nelundu would make sure that no enemy forces would get close to the ground troops while he could still maneuver his vehicle. <!-- google_ad_section_end -->

Teledan Three Day Seven Early Evening - Battle Report
The sun still beat down when Akbad saw the two forces thunder over the shallow hills and toward the two bunkers. One bunker was made of sturdy concrete, although it had seen better days, having battle scars all along the damaged walls and stairs. The other bunker was a newer structure, meant to house infantry to compliment the older bunker and the vehicles it could protect. Neither housed any Imperial vehicles or troops at the moment, and as he swung his sentinel around from his position across the main highway, he could see that that was precisely the destination of the green and the blue masses of troops and vehicles.

Pilot Akbad communicated the situation to command, wishing no part of charging alone against two massive forces! Fortunately for him, there was an Imperial force right behind him, having been sent ahead by some unknown General, or Commander, or someone important. Who cares? He would have backup. And was he going to need it he thought!

As Imperial forces came over the hill from the south, Eldar forces swooped in at amazing speed from the west and immediately landed on and around the infantry bunker. A squad of Guardians and a squad of Dire Avengers deployed on the roof of the complex, and set about searching for something that must have been very important to them. Elegant and frightening blue tanks appeared around the bunker, swooping in over the hills as if they weren't even being slowed down.

From the east a mass of dark green stormed down the road, and quickly seized control of the gray vehicle bunker next to the other fortification. Swift moving squads deployed around the building, while the Dark Angels deployed their Predator, Whirlwind, and other assorted dreadnoughts and vehicles. It looks like they brought as many heavy weapons as they could bring to bear. Damn this was going to be a fight!

The action as fast and furious, certainly too fast for the casual observer. As Akbad maneuvered his sentinel toward the Eldar forces with PDF backup, he tried to keep moving alongside the small tree growth to hide his advance from the two heavy fighting forces.

The Dark Angles pounded the Eldar Guardians with relentless bombardments of missiles. Bodies went flying, yet the aliens still continued their frantic search. Amazing thought Akbad. The Eldar tanks fired back, shredding the closest Dark Angels that were unfortunate enough to be in their line of sight. The Dark Angels also appeared to be searching in their bunkers. It was like watching two gladiators keeping their distance, waiting for some signal, yet still throwing heavy shots from extreme range. Something had to give...
+++++
Nelundu drove the hovering Falcon down between the bunker the Eldar were searching and the massive amount of incoming ordinance. His intention was to move in closer to allow for the deployment of more troops, and hopefully give back as good as they were getting. Each Eldar was extremely proficient in their stations. Nelundu jerked the Serpent to the left, then drove it forward and to the right. He had his attention focused on the deadly vehicles and the massive dreadnought headed for him. He almost didn't even register the Dark Angels squad in front of him till they dared to point their weapons at his hover tank. What did they think they could accomplish with puny weapons? His last sight before being fed back into the Eldar consciousness was of the small ball of super-white flame that shot toward his beloved vehicle and engulfed his world.

+++++
Sgt. Dawkins had his tactical squad moving alongside the might Dreadnought, hoping that the larger targets next to him and behind him would provide more tempting targets for the Eldar. They advanced rapidly toward the infantry bunker until an Eldar hover tank dropped in right in front of them. It simultaneously blocked their path and threatened to blow away the venerable brother beside them.

"Jakes! Open fire on that thing quickly with your plasma gun! See if you can get it's attention!"

Jakes turned his weapon toward the onrushing tank, and midst the clanking bolter fire that was harmlessly bouncing off the tank, he opened fire with a great ball of super-heated plasma directly at the driver's cockpit. The flame smashed through the armored visual port, and sent explosions throughout the structure. The sides and tops of the Wave Serpent exploded, and the mighty vehicle crashed down to the dirt and rubble with a grating slam!



"Well done" said Sgt Dawkins, impressed by the show of force even as he concentrated on his next target. Funny he thought, how minutes and moments can seem like hours and a lifetime.
Sepha knew that the time her forces had was limited. The Dark Angels had managed some extraordinary shots early on and taken out a Wave Serpent and a Falcon and managed to advance their position. The Imperial human forces were now appearing in numbers over the ridge to the south, including a presence that caused her a moment of concern. An Inquisitor had arrived. Those humans would come after her people with a hatred reserved for those they truly didn't understand. Fortunately, they had found what they were looking for! The artifact, which resembled a crude image of a humanoid head, had been found amids the pieces of ruin. Time reached critical stage if they wanted to recover it. She ordered her troops to hold fast, and gave the signal for the Swooping Hawks and Warp Spiders to enter the fray. They must find hold till the warp gate was ready to transport them to their waiting ship. If worst came to worst, they would destroy the artifact.

+++++
Pilot Akbad kept his sentinel on the fringe of the battle. He wasn't the heroic type, although he would do his duty he thought to himself as he opened fire at a Dark Angel devastator squad. He watched as the cursed Predator shot it's beams of light into an Imperial Hellhound, exploding it in an impressive ball of light. Then it's heavy bolter spat death in the direction of the PDF squads attempting to close the distance, cutting it in half in a misty-red instant. Not pretty. The same devastator squad Akbad shot at with his auto cannon knocked out a Chimera with it's heavy ordinance, and combined with the predator had stalled the Imperial advance. Akbad could see on his screen that more reinforcements were arriving, but the Dark Angels and Eldar weren't paying much attention to them. It was as if their attention was focused to an insane degree...

+++++
Sgt. Dawkins continued his advance toward the infantry bunker. It was close now, and damaged from Whirlwind attacks and withering fire from the Venerable Dreadnought beside him. A flicker at his left told him to duck, and it saved his life. Brightly clad Eldar forces materialized out of nowhere to join the battle, and managed to take out a few of his brothers. Charging forward, Sgt Dawkins pulled out his chainsword and yelled "PURGE THE UNCLEAN!", leading his men into hand-to-hand with the Xenos warriors. If he could get through, the path to the bunker lay open. If not, he would die knowing he fought well for the Chapter.

The Imperial Inquisitor was very specific with his instructions. Analysis had indicated that the primary focus of all forces was the infantry bunker where the Temple artifacts were being held. So the majority of Imperials would concentrate fire on the Dark Angels surrounding the vehicle bunker. That way a single well-armed squad with Akbad's Sentinel as backup would make their way closer and closer to the Eldar position, and hopefully eliminate the combatants that weren't paying them much attention. Akbad could see as an Eldar hover tank crashed to the ground in a cloud of dirt and debris, but still managed to fire it's bright forward-firing weapons. The last Eldar vehicle met with a similar fate as the first, losing it's weapons before a barrage of Dark Angles heavy weapons blew it off the face of Teledan Three.

A harsh BOOM! to his left momentarily distracted Akbad, as the Dark Angel Predator exploded from laser cannon fire shot by an anti-tank squad newly arrived. As the last of the Dark Angel infantry in front of the PDF forces were cut down, the Imperials began their advance again, nothing between them and the bunker and the Dark Angels continued to be focused on the alien threat. "This was going to be easy" were the last thoughts of Sentinel Pilot Akbad as the devastating fire from the Venerable Dreadnought blew apart the command cockpit, ending his life in an instant.

+++++
Sepha hastily relayed commands to her squads to slow the steady space marine advance. Her Swooping Hawks and Warp Spiders had managed to momentarily stabilize the front lines, but even now she could see the heavy equipment and dark green machinery being moved into position to continue the punishment of her forces. She had planned on a quick in-and-out movement, but had been ordered to hold onto the position to ensure that the humans would not claim the artifact. So here she would hold till her last breath, hoping that the warp gate being constructed would be finished in time.

Sepha charged forward with the last remnants of her command squad, weapon held high to meet the onrushing Dark Angel assault squad and Dreadnought. Perhaps she could take out enough to discourage them from taking their pared down numbers against the final squad she had as her last line of defense. It was a small hope, but she knew her duty, and would make Rahut and her ancestors proud. With that, she charged, and even as her squad fell around her, she battled on. One marine down, two. Three. Even as her shuriken pistol blew the head off the fourth she could feel the crushing embrace of the massive Dreadnought as its power weapon closed over her upper body. She thought of her brothers and sisters as the last of her mortal life left her body and back to the Eldar consciousness.

The Eldar Warp Spiders retreated from the front lines to hold the bunker itself. Sepha's sacrifice had given them the time to disengage and fall back, avoiding the advancing horde. They swarmed backward and up the side of the fire base bunker, only to be confronted by a Space Marine Chaplin, grinning skull helmet leering at them. They immediately assaulted into each other, fighting as if the heavens depended on it. For the Eldar, time was out as the Dark Angels pressed forward. Here, it was the Chaplin that could play the delay game. Knowing this, and that their skills resulted from vicious charging assaults, the Warp Spiders disengaged yet again, regrouping at the base of the bunker, waiting for one more assault on the compound that would help them achieve their goal.

+++++
Chaplin Marius had a smile to match the grin on his helmet as he charged into the Eldar forces. His skills were honed to a degree that was, well, for lack of a better description, inhuman. He dodged and swung his staff, crushing the skull of an alien. He could feel the blows on his power armor, yet none penetrated to tear at his insides. Instead, he fought on with vigor and a sense of purpose. Suddenly, the Warp Spiders were gone. They glided over the edge of the building and out of range. Snarling in frustration, knowing he couldn't catch them, he checked on the status of his forces. Looking briefly over the top of the bunker on which he stood, he could see what was left of the Dark Angels rushing to meet up with him. The misguided PDF forces of the Guard were marching slowly toward the other bunker. The brother Dreadnought was at the building wall, and would soon smash through it to get at the guts of the bunker, and they could retrieve the cause of all this nonsense. Knowing time was very short before the Thunderhawks were here, he faced the Warp Spiders one last time, preparing to hit them head-on.

+++++
PDF Squad Two, 1st Platoon advanced toward the objective. Nobody had seemed to notice or care about their progress till they were almost in range. They could see before them the Dark Angel Chaplin in black trading blows with the brightly colored Eldar squad. They were fighting fierce and furious when in an instant, the Eldar removed themselves from the combat and landed in front of PDF Squad Two! Before they even had any warning, four of their comrades were shot down where they stood, never to see the sun of Teledan Three again. Shouting out instructions, the Sergeant barely managed to hold his squad from fleeing, and through loud, clear commands ordered their guns to open fire. The auto cannon barked, the plasma gun shot a ball of hot death, and the standard lasguns screamed out their efforts at the aliens in front of them. What had been eight deadly aliens were now 4 deadly aliens. They had reduced the threat in half, and they focused on what must come next. Angry Eldar.

The Inquisitor halted his command with a gesture. He could feel the vibrations in the air, the change of feeling that came with decades of experience. His troops would not approach the bunkers, but would instead hold ground on the other side of the road. There was a time to fight, and a time to wait things out, and sort through the bodies. This was one of those times.

He watched from the tree line as Thunderhawks swooped down to collect their men. Dark Angel batteries were trying their best to level the forward infantry bunker, missiles and artillery crashing through the approaching twilight.

Even as the retreating Eldar slipped through a warp gate, which to the untrained eye looked like several well-placed rocks, massive explosions from set charges sent huge chunks of plasti-crete into the air and crashing back down again, demolishing the building. It looked like both sides were more interested at this point with destruction of what was inside, than retrieval at this point.

The Inquisitor ordered his troops into withdrawal, sensing it was time to go. Never a retreat, but merely the wisdom of knowing the tools he had, and facing Eldar warp gates and Dark Angels Thuderhawks was not something he could do with a Storm Trooper squad and some PDF backup squads. As they moved back into the hills, the world behind them exploded as a huge bombardment from space began ripping through the area where the bunkers had once stood. Whatever had been back there was nothing more now than a pile of evaporated matter.

Teledan Three Campaign Final Report

Scarab Eldar:
Nefet read the reports from her glowing data-screen as the Eldar Warcraft headed for warp space. Although they did not get their hands on the main artifact, enough smaller fragments were recovered for her to be pleased with the result. Unfortunately, many Eldar perished over the recent days, but for the greater good they had achieved what they had come for. They had pieces that could be molded into the psych of a weapon to perhaps allow them to combat those that had wronged them long ago. It would not be decisive, but things in the universe rarely are. Mission accomplished.

Dark Angels:
Interrogator Chaplin Marius was pleased with the outcome. Although they were not sure that they eliminated all traces of the strange behavior-modifying elements from the planet, they could be sure that the main object of their attention was in fact obliterated. The Eldar were forced from the world, and the Dark Angels had completed their mission. Although Captain Faust was lost, another would be chosen to take his place, and the Company would march on.

Imperials:
Teledan Three lay in taters. The original Military Command that ruled the planet was killed in battle. The PDF was in shambles, reduces to partial squads here and there, and mostly burned and twisted machinery. Although the Inquisitor had the authority to take command on Teledan Three, he had no desire to do so. His mission would be to hunt heretics and their devices. No, he'd turn things over to the temporary command of Commissar Absoll and the forces of Company B, Revenna XXX in orbit above till a new structure could be put in place. Teledan Three was a mess, and Imperial Forces could not leave till things were set right again.

Cool report.  Great photos.

I really like the concept of a narrative campaign with a referee like this, because of the way it allows you to incorporate third parties and other forces into the battles.

How many players are actually involved?   It seems like two plus the ref; is he running the IG & Orks?

Craig Gallent's running a map-based game up here in Manchester right now, using the Mighty Empires campaign set, which is pretty sweet.  We're just starting week three.

Thanks Ragnar. You are correct that there were three of us. The GM actually mixed things up a little and had J play his orks one battle in an NPC role.

You guys are lucky to have Craig at the helm. He seems like a total fluff hound.

We are kicking off our next campaign in a week and it's going to be a collaborative campaign. We have 3 players and I am GMing. Should be a fun experiment.