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"We made planetfall two days after arriving in orbit. It seemed a likely candidate for a mining colony, and initial tests all showed that the place was awash with minerals. It was dusty, hot and had an unbreathable atmosphere, but it had the potential to make the Corporation alot of money. The minerals were literally lying on the surface. Lord knows how much we would have found once deep mining operations were started.

Then Hanlon's team vanished while doing a sweep north of the LZ. Turk and his marines found their bloodstained vac-suits in a cave a few klicks from the work site. Of course, if we had known then what was coming... We would have all left then. We didnt."

Johan Stern, Pilot of the Gunbird

LV-424 is a small planet on the Korstani Rim, a cluster of stars and planets on the edge of explored space. The research and exploration ship, Tindalos, has been on station on the Rim for three months conducting charting and survey operations. Its initial survey of LV-424 found likely high levels of valuable mineral deposits and raw materials. After launching two exploration drones, the Tindalos crew left the ship in orbit with a skeleton crew, and the research and USN Marine Teams made planetfall in the dropship, the Gunbird.

The team found a suitable landing zone and set up a small basecamp, somewhere to conduct work and also provide an area to remove their heavy vac-suits and breathing apparatus. Two hab-shelters were thrown up, and work began on surveying the immediate area. Initial tests found high mineral wealth, and despite the hazardous atmosphere, the planet seemed to offer a highly valuable and lucrative chance at mining the raw materials. With initial surveys conducted on day one producing such favourable results, day two saw Doctor Hanlon's research team move further a field to a high rocky plateau, some 2 klicks from basecamp. Four hours after leaving all contact was lost with Hanlon's team. A Marine team set off in pursuit and in a cave near the plateau recovered several of the teams bloodstained vac-suits, or rather their remains. No bodies were evident, but the situation was obviously dangerous and the scene in the cave made it unlikely any of the team were alive. The Marines quickly headed back to the basecamp and began to call in all the research teams for immediate evacuation while they would remain and resume the search for Hanlon and her team along with the four Trojan Combat Droids.

As the teams are heading to basecamp, an unearthly shriek is heard and strange scurrying forms are seen moving among the rocks at inhuman speed. Very quickly it becomes apparent that these visitors are not friendly. With them coming from all sides, the Marines lock and load while the research teams head to the Gunbird!



USN Research & Exploration Unit - Force Composition

3 man USN Marine Team in Heavy Vac-Suits with Advanced Combat Rifles (ACR)
3 man USN Marine Team in Heavy Vac-Suits with ACR
4 man USN Marine Team in Light Vac-Suits with ACR
4 man USN Marine Team in Light Vac-Suits with ACR
4 Trojan Combat Droids fitted with 40mm Automatic Grenade Launcher and 10mm Mini-Gun, deployed in teams of two

4 Researchers in Heavy Vac-Suits with pistols
8 Researchers in Light Vac-Suits with pistols
1 Engineer in Heavy Vac-Suit with Core Blaster
1 Pilot (Johan Stern) in Heavy Vac-Suit with Shotgun

The force must evacuate as many personnel as possible, with the civilian personnel the priority for the Marines. All must evacuate by boarding the Gunbird. The Trojans begin the game powered down and only Johan Stern has the access codes to bring them online, unless a non-human lifeform comes near them, in which case they will self activate. Troops in heavy vac-suits may not run.











The Denizens of LV-424 - Force Composition

1 Hive Queen
40 Warrior Drones

The Warriors deploy in groups of four randomly from the spawning points. Any unit within 12" of the Queen may act freely. Those outside the distance must pass a TQ test to act. The Queen may only control 40 Warriors at anytime, however when four models are killed and removed from play they may be brought back on via a spawning point as reinforcement. They have unlimited reserves. Their objective is to kill as many of the intruders as possible.




The Game

The action began with the returning research teams making as fast a move as possible towards the ship. Two of the Researchers in heavy vac-suits jumped in the survey vehicle and began to drive it out of the area. By the Gunbird, Stern headed for the droids, while the Marines set up a defensive perimeter. All around them, alien creatures surged down the ridgeline toward them.

"Here they come!"



Setting up the perimeter...



The horde...




As they headed back, one USN Marine team in their light vac-suits decided to make a stand in order to buy some time, the aliens moving far faster than any human were gaining ground quickly. The let loose the first volleys from their ACRs and saw two of the creatures hit the ground. Within moments the Marines found themselves assailed by the creatures, and at the same time the Queen tore into the rear of the survey vehicle. The men inside using the heavy crane arm to try and fight off her unwanted attentions. with a bit of luck the Marines managed to holdout for a while gaining valuable time for the rest of the force and holding up the alien attack in the centre. But soon the Marines were torn to pieces, though they took many of the creatures with them. The Queeen tore parts of the vehicle and damaged it so much that the two researchers inside bailed out and in a futile, but gallant gesture, unloaded their pistols into her. The bullets bounced off her armoured hide and the two researchers were soon despatched with a swipe from her bladed tail.

Making a dash for it in the survey vehicle...



They just keep coming!



Hand-to-claw fighting...




This had bought the humans sometime. While another group of Marines and researchers were being surrounded by aliens, one of the research teams boarded the Gunbird as Stern frantically tried to get the first Trojan team operational, but to no avail. Things looked dire for the surrounded group, but they let loose with all weapons, and supporting fire from the basecamp perimeter allowed them to momentarily move out of the danger zone, with the three marines and the engineer in heavy vac-suits holding off the aliens with gunfire. Even the group of researchers blasted their way into the camp perimeter by shooting dead two of the aliens with their pistols.

Hold the line!



Heading to safety...



Surrounded...




Suddenly things seemed to take a turn for the worse. From the rear of the camp, a group of aliens appeared and charged straight for Stern. Luckily the Trojans came online at their presence and cut down three of them as they charged in, but one made it to Stern. As it approached he leveled his shotgun and at point blank range, put a solid slug through its head, the creature collapsing in a heap at his feet. Stern decided enough was enough, and boarded the Gunbird to fire up the engines.

Stern deals with an unwelcome visitor...



Lock and load!



Going down fighting...




With aliens heading for the perimeter from all directions the two USM Marine teams in vac-suits made a stand as their buddies in the light vac-suits boarded the Gunbird. First the team with the Engineer went down under a wave of aliens led by the Queen, and minutes late they swept over the second team and into the basecamp. As they did so they triggered the second Trojan team and all four droids let rip with all weapons, as they too were over-run. As they tore apart the droids, Stern hit the engines and the Gunbird lifted off the ground, several of the aliens being fried by the jets afterburner as he put the engines to the max... Stern took one last flight over the camp, and seeing no survivors headed for the Tindalos.

The final stand...



Away to salvation...



15 of the USN Team got away from the planet, and only two of the civilian researcher were killed. 13 of their men perished on the surface, 11 of them being USN Marines. Despite the losses, the actions of the Marines had saved the civilian personnel and allowed Stern to get the Gunbird to safety.

The game ended with the USN players getting 75 victory points to the aliens 65. A close victory for the USN players who managed to get away with a bit of luck!


All USN troops by GZG, all Aliens by Khurasan Miniatures and the Gunbird built and provided by Johan.

Nice! These are the kind of reports I enjoy looking at, with plenty of pictures and a fun theme.

that was really cool.

I trust the company will consider LV-424 a bad investment based on the findings of their research teams haha.

Excellent report!

Pshaw! Just nuke the indigs and get back to digging!

Nuking them might not actually take care of your indigs problem! Especially if they already exist in the hazardous environment. I doubt that the background radiation would cause much damage to them and if they are underground the impact and detonation of them wouldnt cause any serious damage to their numbers.

Nuking would not be the answer!

Great report, thanks very much for taking the time to share that.

Whoa, that was awesome.

I hope that you make more battle reports like this one and soon.

great pics and report . always a pleasure . your work always inspires me ! great work mate !

Nice report and great pictures.

Pretty cool, a quick read with some great pics.

Really enjoyed reading that, thanks for the write-up!

Unbeknownst to many, the Empire also once laid claim to this planet. The Imperial decree of ownership, however, was very quickly followed by the Empire's withdrawal and denial that it was ever interested.

Very nice!

Great work! Loved the report and the pics.

This makes me want to play.

I'm usually a diehard 40k player, but dude, I want this game! Where do you find the miniatures and rules?

Great looking setup and game!

The different approach to the main board stood out as cool, since it looks like you put a bunch of bumpy stuff under a piece of cloth and then scattered rocks across it. Definitely looks cheaper than buying or hand crafting individual hills.

killykavekommando wrote:I'm usually a diehard 40k player, but dude, I want this game! Where do you find the miniatures and rules?

Game - Tomorrows War from Ambush Alley Games

Figures - GZG Games and Khurasan Miniatures