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Inquisitor Killian’s eyes narrowed as he steepled his hands in front of his face, his bionics giving off an ominous glow. Regarding the blue-skinned negotiator in front of him, he leaned in closely, repeating his question once more.

“Now, do we have a deal?”

The alien blinked for a moment, and the two heavily-armored Tau Fire Warriors, the Negotiator’s bodyguards, shifted nervously. They were obviously uncomfortable in the presence of Killian’s retinue; a massive armored figure loomed over Killian, a massive, blocky Storm Bolter attached to his gauntlet. Grey Knight Librarian Shan stood, silent, his helm obscuring his visage, never once moving, his helmet’s unblinking eyes focused on the Tau Water Caste Negotiator. He hadn’t spoken since the negotiations had begun, and his mere presence was enough to pass a shadow of gloom over the proceedings. The Grey Knights, Chapter 666 of the Adeptus Astartes, were secretive, and mostly the stuff of whispered legends among high-ranking Imperial officials. The Tau, as a collective race, had only encountered the Chapter once before, during the scouring of Kronus, where a small detachment of Grey Knights had fought alongside Blood Ravens commander Davian Thule. The Agnius Sept Tau most certainly hadn’t encountered the mailed fist of the Ordo Malleus before, and the presence of this new unknown had the negotiator slightly worried.

The Agnius Sept hailed from a hot, molten planet on the Eastern Fringe. Accustomed to high gravity worlds, and the fierce creatures that lurked in the magma flows, the Agnius Sept Tau did not shirk from close quarters combat, and had clashed multiple times with the Marines Mendicant Chapter of the Adeptus Astartes. The Marines Mendicant were hell-bent on reclaiming the molten rock, having used it as a training ground prior to the Damocles Gulf Crusade, and so far, the Chapter’s small attempts to gain ground had yielded little fruit. The emergence of Hive Fleet Kraken had drawn their attention, however, and the Marines Mendicant had refocused their attention on the Tyranids instead of the Tau.

“You want us to press the attack, yes? If what you say is true, then doing so will save not only your sector, but us as well?” the Negotiator mused.

Killian’s silence, behind his steepled fingers, gave the Negotiator all the confirmation he needed.

“These Space Marines are hardy opponents. But it can be done, for the Greater Good” the Negotiator spoke, nodding at the Inquisitor. The Negotiator bowed, and Killian stood, repeating the gesture. The Negotiator departed, his retinue following. As Killian and Shan exited the room, a pair of Fire Warriors escorted them to their quarters aboard the Tau ship. The two humans strode down the hall, and Killian turned to Shan, staring up into the massive warrior’s helm.

“Are you prepared, Librarian? I must ask you to perform yet another cleansing”

The Librarian, not breaking stride, looked down at Killian.

“Of course, Inquisitor. Daemons and heretics shall fall before my blade, and if what you say is true, the Marines Mendicant are as good as lost”

Killian nodded.

“We must strike quickly. When this ship emerges from realspace, we will make landfall while the Tau press the attack…”

---
Admiral Varko stood on the bridge of the Emperor Class battleship, Avenger, calmly surveying the fleet under his command. A small combat-ready fleet, bearing hundreds of Imperial Guardsmen of the Tylansian Marine Expeditionary Unit, ready to join the Marines Mendicant in action against the Tyranids of Hive Fleet Kraken. An Astartes Strike Cruiser, the Stalker, was among this fleet, carrying veterans of the Marines Mendicant 1st Company among them. High above Regius, the homeworld of the Marines Mendicant, this was the fleet’s final stop before departing to join the fight against the Great Devourer. Feeling secure aboard his ship, head of this powerful fleet, Admiral Varko turned, preparing to issue the order to maneuver out of the system in preparation for their Warp Jump to the Hrackert Rift crusade against Hive Fleet Kraken.

The look on his navigator’s face, however, caused Varko to pause, and the rumbling of his ship, caused by what was undoubtedly a close impact, caused the officer to turn pale as his bridge crew began shouting in surprise and terror.

“Contact! Dozens of contacts!”

“Void shields won’t hold for much longer!”

“Port broadside Lance batteries disabled!”

Smoke began to fill the bridge as warning klaxons sounded. From the bridge, Varko could see flames erupting all along the port side of his ship, and the appearance of dozens of alien ships could only mean an invasion force. The Avenger began to roll, trying to bring the starboard gun batteries and fresh void shields to bear against the incoming vessel. Varko recognized the ship as a Tau vessel, but why the Tau were suddenly attacking was beyond him.

“Boarding torpedoes launched, Admiral!” one of his bridge crew, Specialist Aoba, reported. Striding up to the ship’s vox network, Admiral Varko barked,

“Boarding torpedoes inbound! Prepare to repel boarders!”

Reports of contact began flooding the vox channels; the shipboard defense teams were being repelled by the Tau! It was as if they knew exactly where to strike, where chokepoints were, and how to best combat the Naval Armsmen. But that couldn’t be…the Tau weren’t known for their close-quarters prowess. Engagements in the Damocles Gulf Crusade showed this in spades; the Tau always folded in close-quarter firefights. So where had this sudden burst of competence come from?

“Admiral, boarding parties detected on the portside munitions stores!”

Admiral Varko’s blood froze. If the Tau managed to detonate the portside magazines, the entire ship would be sundered, and the Imperial fleet would lose its flagship.

“Order all Guardsmen and naval security teams to the portside magazines! We cannot let the Tau take them!”

---
The Siege of Regius, Battle 1: Boarding Action

Hello everyone! This report marks the beginning of a semester-long 40K campaign/grudge match against a long running opponent of mine. I'm running my Imperial Guard and Space Marines, while he's running Tau, Grey Knights, and Space Marines (Blood Ravens). This is our first match.

We played a special variant of a Kill Team mission. I setup some Space Hulk tiles, and had my opponent pick out a 200 point list, as did I.

The Board;


I took the following:



Lieutenant Harbotken (Imperial Guard Sergeant w/ Power Weapon)

First Squad:
Sergeant
Flamer
X8 Guardsmen

Second Squad:
Sergeant
Flamer
X8 Guardsmen

Third Squad:
Sergeant
Flamer
X8 Guardsmen

Special Weapon Squad:
X3 Grenade Launchers
X3 Guardsmen

And my opponent brought:



Crisis Suit (Flamers, Missile Pod)

X4 Pathfinders

X6 Fire Warriors

We allowed the Tau to take first turn. The Tau had to plant charges at the beginning of the Movement Phase in four different rooms, with one optional charge to blow up an elevator. The elevators would spawn defeated squads on a 4+. The Tau would win if at least two charges were planted, while I would win if I stopped this from happening.

One fast note; I intend to be a little less strict with the rules in this campaign. I’m trying to go for a cinematic experience, so if I declare something to be “cool”, regardless of rule status, I might just let it go. So ignore some rules flubs you see; some might be actual flubs, but they could also be cool exceptions, which will be noted in this and future reports.

My opponent gave the Fire Warriors Relentless, the Crisis Suit FNP, and the Pathfinders Fearless (I allowed the entire squads to take the USR’s).

Deployment went as such:









Tau, Turn 1:
The hiss of a thermal charge burning its way through a steel door reverberated through the portside magazine of the Avenger. Lieutenant Harbotken readied his Power Sword, preparing to cut down the first Tau that entered the door. Tau Pulse Fire blew the door open for him; Harbotken wasn’t prepared for this event as further Tau fire cut down his squad around him.

Movement saw my opponent move up, preparing to fire at the door.



Shooting saw one Fire Warrior shoot the door open, while the others then fired at the point squad. Flamers from the Crisis Suit, along with more Pulse Carbines, cut down most of the point squad, who held their ground.



Nothing assaulted this turn.

Guard, Turn 1:
Bellowing a war cry, Harbotken charged down the hall, his blade digging into the large armored form of the Crisis Suit. The machine retaliated, its pilot swinging the bulk of the suit around, smashing one of the hapless Guardsmen who had charged along with him as lasbolts flew past his head.

Movement saw me advance with my point squad, moving towards the Crisis Suit.



Shooting saw the Plasma Pistol, Flamer, and Laspistol fire at the Crisis Suit, with the Flamer picking off a Pathfinder. The Suit soaked all of the damage (partially because I rolled a 1 on my Plasma’s wound roll). Krak Grenades were fired at the Suit, which shrugged this off through Feel No Pain.

Assault saw the depleted Squad assault the Crisis Suit, which took a wound while crushing a Guardsmen in return.



Tau Turn 2:
The Tau were persistent, pushing forward into the melee in front of them. Lieutenant Harbotken could only hold out for so long as the Tau Stealth Suit closed in, supported by two…humans? Yes, indeed, those were two humans, aiding the Tau! With a cry of fury on his lips, Harbotken died, beaten down not by xenos, but by members of his own species…

The Tau advanced forward, trying to unplug the choke point.

Nothing could shoot, as I’d pretty much clogged up the Tau firing lanes with my assault (all according to plan).

Assault saw nearly everything in range hop into the assault, killing the last Guardsmen. Everything consolidated forward.



Guard Turn 2:
The lift hissed, and another squad of Guardsmen rushed forward, intent on reinforcing the struggling defenders. Grenades flew down the hallway, filling the hallway with shrapnel and smoke. To the dismay of the Special Weapons Team, the Tau Battlesuit strode forward, mildly singed, shrugging off lasbolts and fragmentation grenades.

I rolled to respawn the depleted Guardsmen squad, and succeeded; they were deployed in the far back, and then moved into the hallway. Nothing else moved.



Shooting saw me dump fire into the Battlesuit, which shrugged off everything thrown at it.

Nothing assaulted this turn.

Tau Turn 3:
Swiftly moving into the first chamber, the Tau eliminated the Special Weapons team with flamers and pulse fire; there was no place to hide in the tight confines of the ship from incoming fire. The Battle Suit commander set a pair of demolition charges quickly, while Tau fire pinned Sergeant Jackson’s squad in the far hallway.

Movement saw nearly every Tau unit move up. The Battle Suit placed a charge in the first room (1/4 charges planted).

Shooting saw the Tau wipe the Special Weapons Squad, while Pulse Carbines pinned the closest Guardsmen squad.



Nothing assaulted this turn.

Guard Turn 3:
Leading the counter-attack, more Guardsmen began to rush onto this deck in an attempt to halt the Tau advance. Guardsmen leveled their lasguns and poured fire into the connecting rooms, their efforts rewarded by alien cries of pain as a number of rounds found their marks.

Movement saw the closest Guardsmen squad move up towards the connecting room. The Special Weapons Squad respawned and headed towards the north-eastern room (the cryo chamber).



Shooting observed the same Guardsmen squad fire with a Flamer and a bunch of Lasguns into the Tau position, knocking out some Pathfinders.

I was out of assault range, so no assaults occurred this turn.

Tau Turn 4:
As the Imperials pressed in, the Tau began their push further into the ship. Taking casualties along the way, the Battlesuit commander led the foray, pushing into the cryo-stasis chamber. The door hissed open, and the Battlesuit Commander was met with the sight of a few dozen humans, suspended in cryo stasis…

Movement saw the Tau push into the more northern room, the Crisis suit spearheading the attack.

Shooting saw the last Guardsmen squad obliterated by Tau fire.

The Crisis Suit assaulted the last Guard survivor, killing him with ease.



Guard Turn 4:
Throwing the door open, the Special Weapons Team leveled their weapons at the Crisis Suit, grinning wickedly as they pounded the machine at point blank range. Krak Grenades tore sensor arrays and hydraulics asunder, and the suit soon lay, ruined, at the feet of the Guardsmen.

Movement witnessed the Special Weapons Team open the door, revealing the Crisis Suit. The other Guardsmen squad advanced further, getting ready to sweep the Tau.



Shooting witnessed the remaining Pathfinders and Stealth Suit get wiped out by the full Guardsmen squad (the Stealth Suit got caught under the flamer template and failed his armor save), while the Special Weapons Team killed the Crisis Suit. I rolled a die, and declared that the pilot ejected in time, upon the principle of Rule of Cool.





Nothing assaulted this turn.

Tau Turn 5:
Crawling from his ruined Battle Suit, the veteran Tau warrior defiantly armed a set of demolition charges, before rushing the Special Weapons Team. The Tau attempted to return fire, but were being overrun by the desperate Imperial counter-attack; the Guardsmen fought like men possessed, knowing that failure would not only cost their lives, but many more lives as the Imperial Fleet folded and the Tau made planet fall.

The ejected Tau moved forward, setting the second of the charges (and thus winning the scenario). The remaining Fire Warriors held their ground, preparing to return fire.



Return fire from the Fire Warriors dropped a few Guardsmen, while the ejected Tau’s pulse pistol failed to wound the Special Weapons Team.

Assault saw the ejected Tau assault the Special Weapons Team, and get killed in combat.



Their combat knives ready, the Special Weapons Team sunk their blades into the defiant Tau Veteran, while the last Guardsmen team cut down the fleeing Fire Warriors. Their triumph was short lived, however, as the last of the strike force dying initiated a chain reaction. The two charges blew, tearing into the ship’s portside magazine well. In seconds, flames engulfed the ship, tearing the once proud vessel asunder. The Imperial Fleet, now panicking and in disarray, provided a small enough window for Tau dropships to enter the atmosphere of Regius, as the Stalker began to initiate a counter attack, driving the Tau fleet back.

Regius’ PDF watched with baited breath as the Tau made planet fall…

Stay tuned for Battle 2 of the campaign!

Great fluff and its great to see the use of the Space Hulk bits as terrain!

I enjoyed it ^_^

~Ghost

Nice Bat Rep. Cool to see a different type of game, though the Tau in close quarters are at an extreme disadvantage. Thanks for posting.
Cheers

Very cool battle rep!!! I'm loving the fluff behind all of this! Quite excellent!

Excellent!

Great pictures, great fluff, great use of the Rule of Cool!

Can't wait for the next one!