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Decided to post this here with what few pics I took.

Salamanders 4th Company (mrwhoop, Order) vs Orks 1000pts
Planet: Jurn, Dagon System
Planetstrike : Planetfall
Outcome: Massacre Victory/concession 10-0 (1 objective + 7 units)

Forces
Epistolary Librarian T'nath (Dust of a 1000 Worlds: Puppet Master/Invisible Strategy : Deathstorm)

Tactical Squad 1 : flamer, missile launcher, combiflamer
Razorback

Tactical Squad 2 : flamer, missile launcher, combiflamer
Rhino

Tactical Squad 3 : flamer, heavy bolter, combiflamer
Razorback tl lascannon

Ironclan with heavy flamer - Brother Ekin
drop pod

Orks:
Big Mek with KFF and power klaw (Gives furious charge: Strategy : Trenches)
30 choppa boyz

30 choppa boyz and Nob power klaw

10 lootas

10 burnas
Deffrolla battle wagon

Boomwagon


Turn 1
Orks deploy all on the table


- My Ironclad in DP, librarian with 1/2 of tac 1 in the RB, Squad 2 in a rhino and the heavy bolter combat squad of tac 3 arrives on the table. I put them all on the left flank away from the battle wagon.
Firestorm is dreadfully low in killing orks, 3 lootas and 7 boyz (inlcuding nob) and the deathstorm kills maybe another 2 boyz

- Orks move the battle wagon towards my forces and the boom wagon tries to shoot the dread scattering back to kill two boyz. The lootas glance the ironclad.

Turn 2
-My LCrazorback arrives and I aim it for the right side of the table to get the battlewagon's side armor. The librarian and squad get out to use puppet master on the lootas to glance the battle wagon. The razorback immobilizes it. The ironclad assaults into the boyz and whiffs in combat while the boyz can't hurt it.


-The orks pile the burnas out of the battlewagon to get at the razorback and the big mek mob moves toward the left flank. The lootas and boomwagon kill 2 marines off the librarian squad but they pass morale. The burnas assault the razorback and with 19 hits only get 1 glance. He decides to auto fail the boyz in the ironclad fight but they get swept.

Turn 3
- The last combat squad with a missile launcher arrives and my squads move up. The librarian puppet masters the lootas into exploding the boom wagon. The squad in the LC razorback roll over the fearless burnas, get out and kill 8 to make them run off the board..

At this point my opponent agrees to concede as I took out the last of his anti tank and tells me that if I had puppet master'd the Big Mek squad into killing the lootas it would be more than over. I admit to not having thought of that but to loota the mob. So I still learned something and pulled a win; it was a good game.


::Incoming Transmission::

Requ-e a-tance. -ush on patro- 26 klicks off -te Two I say again --Route Two please send--

"And there the message repeats sire, the cogitators can do no more to clean or amplify the message."

The space marine looked from the display to the chapter serf; "You have done your duty, continue to monitor Jurn's communications arrays for further reports".

Turning to leave the bridge he almost brushed into Epistolary Librarian T'nath. "My Lord, I did not hear you enter"

"Nor would I hear from you until you had already sought permission to look into this distress call Sergeant." Nearly half a head shorter than the sergeant the librarian still seemed to hold more power in his frame than those of the Fire Drakes in their venerable tactical dreadnought armor.

"I can feel the tension of you and your squad but to actively seek out missions when we still have orders to await our Captain's return seems..."

"A good response to a confirmed lost patrol. The PDF have confirmed its loss and while we await Capt. Bo'ertol the world is being attacked. My squad is at half strength and the Chaplain would surely allow us to determine the ambush site and who was laying in wait."

"In truth I also feel this would be approved and a good exercise for our Brothers but I must warn you Ko'en; the Tarot do not bode well for this mission."

" I thank you for your warning my lord, but I believe that if we assist the PDF in this matter the morale will be better for it. Knowing that while an invasion occurs at the shrine world of Valos His Angels of Death still watch over those here."

------

One standard cycle later no word is heard from Sergeant Ko'en or his squad and I fear the worst. I have since taken it upon myself to lead 3 full tactical squads as well as Brother Ekin onto the surface and locate the ambushed PDF patrol and any survivors of Ko'en's squad.
-from the log of Epistolary Librarian T'nath

------

Upon arriving at the last known location from the combat squad the psyker reached out with his senses and felt an unfamiliar push. It was as if his witchsight was being drawn away from a particular hill. Focusing his efforts T'nath was rewarded with an awful sight: both the PDF and missing squad were dead and killed by not an ambush but an ork encampment. Somehow it was shielded from both sight and the auguries of both vehicles and sensor networks!

Issuing orders to both the battle barge in orbit and to his squads the Salamanders set out to destroy the ork fort and whatever foul machine the Big Mek had created to shield the xenos horde.

Down came the drop pod containing the Ironclad of Brother Ekin. With his locator beacon he was able to feed firing coordinates to both Marines on the ground and in orbit. T'nath rode with the 1st squad in a razorback while the 2nd squad pushed up a far left flank around a copse of trees. A portion of 3rd squad with a heavy bolter moved up behind them to set up a support position while the other half would arrive later in a lascannon razorback to the far right flank.

Surveying the aftermath of the orbital firestorm the librarian was shocked to see that the Big Mek's fortress had also included a trench system of barricades and cover. The damages were minimal with a few lootas on the fort battlements and barely 7 orks and their nob dead! As he made to direct fire on the lootas the skies changed and darkened quickly. Forks of lightning began to strike the ground and managed to kill another handful of orks but thankfully was not harmful to the armor of his brothers.

Seeing the arrival of such a force the orks began to move out of their barricades and trenches to attack the space marines. The boomwagon lined up the Ironclad and proceeded to shell it's own forces with a short scatter. The lootas likewise rattled off a deafening volley and glanced Brother Ekin.

"Squad Dris to T'nath, we are arriving to flank and see a battlewagon full of burnas heading to your position."

"Excellent timing Dris, target that battle wagon and stay back. There's a mob of orks behind those fort walls moving up to engage."

"Understood lord."

"Brothers, I leave to you engage the heavy weapons on the fortress walls. Should they be allowed to continue firing even their shots will bring harm to Brother Ekin before he can engage the mob of foul orks." Moving to leave the tank, a marine places his hand upon T'nath's shoulder "If you move to go into the Fire of Battle my lord, we follow." Nodding his consent, the librarian watched the squad sweep out before him. Though being a psyker marked him out from others in his chapter, T'nath was grateful that battle would meld them together as they stood and fought against the orks this day.

Once on the field, T'nath saw the mighty dreadnought move to engage the orks in close combat. He also perceived the lootas pointing at him and preparing to fire again. Extending his will through the Empyrean he changed the sight of the ork battlewagon to a more tempting target.

"Woah 'old on boys! There's a Umie battle wagon right by the boss!"
"Load up load up!"
"If I's get it first the Boss'll be right pleased."
All the lootas turned to unload their mismatched deffguns into the burns wagon but such was the quick change in target that they only put glances on it and made the burna boyz make rude gestures.

Meanwhile Dris was directing the lascanon at the other side of the battle wagon and the razorback immobilized the xenos vehicle rendering its deff rolla impotent.

In the time it took for the lootas to be distracted the Ironclad had rumbled up to the ork mob and unleashed his flames into them. "Contempt is my armor, hatred my sword!' boomed the dreadnought as he strode into combat with the mob.

With their ride immobile the burnas piled out and managed to surround the razorback. Knowing that the threat was in hand the Big Mek hit some boyz and made the mob to head toward the librarian and his squad.

"Dem boyz ain't got a chance with dat dread! Move ova Move ova!"

The boomwagon then takes another shot, this time at the librarian. The marines feel the shockwave through their armor and one falls never to get up. The lootas kill yet another of the squad.

"We shall see this this place torn down and burned to ash!" swears T'nath and the squad commits to avenge their fallen brothers.

Brother Edin manages to kill a few of the orks and realizing their weapons are useless they attempt to flee the rampaging metal box to engage the more vulnerable looking librarian.

"Know that the flames of battle consume the weak!" the Ironclad let loose with a mighty stomp and another burst of his flames cleansing the field of the foul xenos.

The burnas pile around the razorback of 3rd squad and for all their banging and burning they cannot cut through the venerable sides of the tank. Dris orders the driver to push forward and drive over the orks.

"Out Brothers! We shall show these greenskins how a Son of Vulkan uses flame in battle!"
Leading by example the Sergeant of 3rd squad let loose with his combi flamer and with the combined strength of flame and bolter cut the numbers from 10 to 2. So decimated the burnas flee from the scene of carnage.

The librarian then tries once more to control the lootas atop the fort walls. He makes to aim them toward the boomwagon this time. Again they point their weapons at their own units and this time the lootas turn the death trap into a smoking crater.

More rounds are fired at the lootas and they number only a handful now. With only two dead Umies and much of the boyz decimated the Big Mek throws his power klaw round and has the boyz run for it. "We's never lose, we's da Orks and we'll fight again. Now move it you gits! Da Boss will want to know dere's a propah fight wit dem Beakies 'ere!"

So saying he flipped some toggles and the Big Mek and his mob of boyz disappeared. Try as he might the Epistolary could not find them nor sense to where they had retreated.
"Brothers, this day is ours. Sweep the ork fortress and prepare it for destruction."

Thus ordered the squads swept the area for any remaining orks and planted charges to destroy the encampment.

Finale
Once the area was cleansed of ork spores and their buildings the Salamanders returned to their battle barge in orbit. T'nath was just returning to his quarters when a pair of boots began walking in step with him.
"Chaplain." the librarian greeted him simply.

"Librarian", retorted the marine, "now that we have our duties sorted may we speak in earnest?"

T'nath turned to him. "How do you mean brother?"

"I mean what troubles you? That I would be offended that you critique my judgement allowing Ko'en and his squad to by killed by xenos?"

"My report to Capt Bo'ertol contain no such slight Chaplain".

"Then what troubles you? I may not have the witch sight but you have not spoken to anyone since returning." The two gazed at each other for a time before the psyker spoke first.

"I worry about the orks that got away. Such a device cannot be allowed to continue to exist."

"That's not all is it? Surely a few orks cannot make you withdraw from your brothers so easily?"

"No brother, I worry that with this fight we have stirred the orks to greater action and made the planet and it's citizens less safe than had we not acted."

"Humph, your skills with the warp may be great but your strategic skills are still lacking. The orks were stirred up by the PDF; had we allowed them to do as they pleased they would have started attacking the mining communities and space ports. By bringing the fight to them, they will return to that location. Indeed to even mobilize his hordes the warboss will have to reveal their location and we will do what we do best."

"Break them upon the Anvil of War" said T'nath realizing both his weakness and the Chaplain's strength. He had a better insight now as to why the Captain had left the Chaplain in charge instead of him.

"We will be ready" spoke the Chaplain.

"Yes, that we will" replied the librarian. T'nath turned to make for his chamber; That we will.

Sorry for the late batrep, this one happened last week but was reported:

Salamanders 4th Company (mrwhoop, Order) vs Necrons 2000pts
Planet: Jurn, Dagon System
Crusade: 4 objectives total
Deployment: Dawn of War
Outcome: Victory 8-4 (2 obj. and slay the warlord/line breaker vs 1 obj. and first blood)

Forces
Epistolary Librarian T'nath (Coordinated Assault: Telepathy:Invisible and Primaris)

Tactical Squad 1 : flamer, missile launcher, combiflamer

Tactical Squad 4 : plasmagun, plasma cannon, combiplasma

Tactical Squad 5 : meltagun, multimelta, combimelta
drop pod

Tactical Squad 7: plasmagun, lascannon, combiplasma
Razorback tl lascannon

Ironclan with heavy flamer - Brother Ekin
drop pod

Ironclan with heavy flamer
drop pod

2 Vindicators with storm shields and storm bolters

Bastion with an Icarus Lascannon


Necrons:

Necron Overlord with warscythe, res orb, and mindshackle scarabs (Dust of a 1000 Worlds)

Necron lord with warscythe, res orb

2 units of 20 warriors

10 Deathmarks

C'tan Shard with Lord of Fire and Writhing Worldscape

Monolith

Annihilation Barge

5 Destroyers

10 Scarabs

3 Spyders

Cryptek with Harbinger of the Storm, lightning field and ether crystal



I win the roll to go first and place my fortification in the middle (combat squad of Tac 1 ML inside, combat squad 7 with LC on top. Ruins to the left allow the other half of Tac 7 a place to shoot. The Librarian goes inside the Razorback (behind the bastion) with the flaming half of Tac 1. A vindicator in front and another the far right behind a hill. By that tank is where I place Tac 4.

Necrons deploy both warriors along the back behind some ruins, Overlord on my right flank close to the hill vindicator. The Spyders in the middle with the scarabs in front of them. C'tan is near them behind cover. The cryptek joins the left flank warrios. The barge, monolith and Deathmarks are in reserve. He fails to steal the initiative.

Objectives had been placed in all the 2x2 squares except the two right ones.

Turn 1

My two Ironclads come in, one by each warrior squad (my mistake, I should have doubled up on one squad) and a meltagun explodes by the C'tan. Little dies via flame or vindicator.

When my DPs come in he has the Deathmarks come in on the right flank and marks the plasma cannon tac squad.

His turn undoes the scarab deaths, moves up and warrior shooting sees the left Ironclad wreck. The deathmarks kill a tac marine or two. The scarabs assault the remaining Ironclad and it manages to survive with one armor point in the rear armor...

Turn 2

I manage to kill a handful of warriors but in assault the Ironclad goes down with 2 scarab bases.

His turn sees that damage yet again undone and the Deathmarks wipe the plasma Tac squad off the board. Lord w/ warriors wreck a DP.

Turn 3

The librarian squad gets out and heads to deal with the Deathmarks. I manage to wipe the Overlord's squad but he remains with one wound.

His turn 3 has the barge, monolith and destroyers come in. I intercept the barge as it came in first with the ILC. The monolith mishaps and I place it in the far right corner. He forgets to shoot the destroyers at the middle vindicator. His Overlord makes it into assault with the right hill vindicator and wrecks it.

Turn 4

My melta tac DP comes in by monolith (combat squaded) and explodes it losing a marine. The other half has the multimelta snap fire the Overlord dead. The librarian and flamers wipe the Deathmarks while the surviving vindicator wipes the Destroyers and 2 scarab bases.

His turn has the Overlord get up and attempt to assault the multimelta saqud and again(!) the multimelta puts the Overlord down.

Turn 5

I move the librarian onto my 'middle objective' and the tac 7 plasma half onto my 'left objective'. I also kill the C'tan in focus fire.

His turn has his (only troop) warriors in the far left corner objective with the spyders at his middle objective to prevent my melta sqauds from running up. But the game ends with an Imperial victory.

Prelude
In a room with banks of cogitators, servitors work out complex algorithms and patterns trying to find just the right sequence they were instructed to locate. It took days but hour after hour their mindless labor bore fruit. A datapacket was made and sent to the bridge with a monotone chant and a swirl of incense...

"News my lord" spoke a bridge bondsman on the Battle Barge Fiery Spirit, "the auspex sensors have analysed the area of the last battle with the Orks".

"Channel the machine spirit's message to the Fore Stradegem room and inform Chaplain Varei and Librarian T'nath to meet me there" ordered the barge's captain Mot'l. The aged marine was augmented with two bionic limps and they clicked and groaned as he made his way to meet with his battle brothers. In the short time it took to arrive he wasn't surprised that both were waiting for him in the corridor outside the room. He keyed open the door and they all entered to stand around a flickering holofield. With a few words of assurance to the machine spirit as to his authority the captain loaded the datapacket. Hisses and gears were heard as the holofield flickered on and off and turned from a pale green to blue with differing topography and datapoints.

Without preamble Mot'l began "With the data on the battle with the orks analysed, we've been able to determine their location Brothers. Southwest of the ambush site are several abandoned mines with the same energy signature that the Big Mek's device used."

The librarian felt a flicker of...something...but it was too fleeting to know just what it could be. "We should bring the previous tactical squads as well as both Ironclads to this battle."

"May I suggest taking the vindicators as well brother?" spoke the chaplain. "If that Ork did indeed return to their fort then the Xenos will be there in numbers to prepare for the fighting."

"Sound counsel Varei," admitted T'nath, then turning to the battle barge's captain "please send my request to the techmarines Captain. I must tend to something." A passing glance to the Chaplain and then Mot'l nodded his assent, "Vulkan be with you Epistolary."

Leaving the Stradegem Librarian T'nath began making his way to his sanctum. It wasn't long before he felt the familiar aura of the chaplain. It was a distinctive one, seemingly hot as a forge but tempered as to not make a glare as some ill tempered Astartes were when around him. "Was there something else you wished to advise me on Chaplain?"

"I was curious why you had the captain request the activation of our tanks and not yourself brother."

T'nath took a moment to think on how to describe the brief event in the warp but decided against it. "I must consult the Tarot to determine if the Emperor has any insight to grant us in the coming battle."

"While you weren't in the wrong for asking him, Capt. Mot'l has other duties to attend to. Specifically monitoring the asteroids for ork roks trying to make planetfall."

Stopping T'nath looked at the chaplain. "I see, since you offered the counsel I suppose I should have requested this of you?"

"While I was left in charge by our esteemed Captain Bo'ertol I would have accepted and then asked you in the Stradegem; instead of hounding you like some kind of Immaterium predator." smirked the chaplain.

"And why did he leave you in charge and yet you have not joined in battle? Why is it you send me when I could meditate and assist in identifying these ork roks?"

Chaplain Varei gazed at his younger comrade for a moment before saying "So that I may prepare for our Captain's return and that you may commune not with the Tarot but our Brothers. You may know the dangers of the Warp firsthand, but it is still my duty for the spiritual health of our company."

"I see" T'nath said simply began walking to his sanctum once again to focus on what he had felt earlier. When he arrived and the rituals prepared he reached out with his ability to seek what the Tarot might reveal. A feeling of the alien, of death and struggle - common enough to expect these results but something else...something faint, like a stirring nothing. A color without an aura or feeling. It was strange but just as he focused on this it faded from him. He realized something else, there wasn't the usual anger that he associated with the orks. This was something to be wary of in the coming battle.

Battle

Epistolary T'nath was riding with the 1st tactical squad again when he heard 4th squad report over the vox that a bastion was found near the mines where the orks were reported to be. "Seems intact, no markings or sign of xenos activity. The cogitators seem to be in working order my Lord."

"Set up to the east of it and await us to arrive. T'nath out." Strange, if the orks were near they would have stripped the bastion of its guns or set up in it as a fort of their own.

Upon arriving T'nath had the 1st squad investigate further and was both relieved and frustrated that the bastion was declared fit for use. If the orks were nearby the added fortifications were welcomed but without sign of the xenos just where were they? Then the empty color returned and T'nath knew they were about to find out what was going on. Opening the vox and his mind he spoke to the forces at his command. "The enemy approaches! Prepare to meet them!"

He entered the razorback to use it's targeting auspex and aimed in the direction of the 'emotionless clear color'. He heard the 1st tactical enter behind and saw that half had likely remained in the bastion. "Sir, we found an operational Icarus lascannon on the battlements. Shall I request 7th's squad to operate it?"

"Yes and split the vindicators. One behind the bastion to react to either flank and the other to support 4th on the hills to the east." The Epistolary began scanning and stopped when he saw the xenos on the monitor. Though they were xenos, it would not be orks they would be fighting but necrons! Two units of warriors were in a pincer formation while tomb spyders could be seen between them. He quickly began sending coordinates to the awaiting drop pods where the Ironclads and 5th squad awaited orders.

"7th reporting sir, the lascannon and the Icarus targeting have been merged to fire simultaneously. The sergeant has found a ruined building likely used as a stop for travelers to rest in safety of the bastion here. Our lascannon razorback rests hull down for supporting fire."

"Look north brother, you should have vantage to see not orks but necrons approaching. Two units of warriors, tomb spyders, and more."

With everyone in position it was just a matter of time until the first flaming streaks of the drop pods were visible. Brother Ekin landed in front of the spyders and some ruins while the other drop pod landed in front of the warriors squad. They unleashed flames but Brother Ekin reported with curses. "My meltagun has exploded. Be warned brothers! There is a C'tan shard here along with scarabs!" Another reported gained T'nath's attention as 4th sqaud reported the unit designated as Deathmarks had teleported behind them. The vindicators had moved up and attempted shots at the warriors but few seem to be affected by the shelling.

With targets in front of them the warriors proceed to wreck the left flanking Ironclad while Brother Ekin was embroiled by scarabs. "Foul Xenos; get off me!" bellowed the dreadnaught stomping a number of them under foot. It was apparent though that he would not last under the eroding effects of the alien technology. T'nath could only bow his head in shame as he had not seen the scarabs or c'tan with auspex or witch sight. The 4th squad reported engaging in a firefight with the Deathmarks with casualties on both sides.

------
With the battle lines taking form and the loss of one (likely to become two) dreadnaughts to consider T'nath ordered both vindicators to move up and begin firing for effect on the warriors with the Overlord. Meanwhile the 4th squad continued to report kills though fewer of their sigils light the screen. Brother Ekin made one last vox cursing the scarab menace and was silenced.

It was then that the causalties begin to mount. The 4th squad was wiped out by the insidious sniping of the necron assassins. The right flank was now exposed to further attacks while the other warriors on the left flank were making a methodical advance destroying the drop pods as they closed. To take a stand the psyker moved from the console and saw that the five marines were ready and already lowering the razorback's ramp. "Once more into the fray Brother?"

"Once more Sergeant. Vox your squad to provide supporting fire from the bastion. We will scour this abomination from Jurn with flame." The vindicators continued to shell the right flank scoring some kills but not enough.

That was when an eerie green light appeared between the battle lines and the necron reinforcements arrived. Sensing a moment to alter the teleporting necrons, T'nath pushed into the Empyrean and felt a shudder as a large object was shoved from entering nearby and landed far out of sight. Then more smaller units appeared and the marines in the bastion voxed in. "Brothers! A unit designated as 'Destroyers' have arrived before the scarab swarm! Also an Annihilation Barge!"

Another voice this time, T'nath believed it was one of his brothers from 7th manning the Icarus lascannon. "It's bracketed, and firing..." a detonation was heard as the barge was destroyed before it could do anything.

"Good shooting brother". Though he was unsure if he was heard over the shelling of the vinidicator on the Overlord's warriors closing on the right flank. When the last shell was fired and the debris still landing it could be seen that the right warrior unit was decimated. Using the warp to enhance his sight the librarian saw movement. The necron Overlord still strode forward undeterred. Unfamiliar with this unit T'nath was unsure but it appeared damaged.

The necron leader made an assault charge at the right vindicator and wrecked it leaving the right flank exposed to the xeno menace. However the Primarch was with them as the Destroyers seemed disoriented and failed to shoot at the last vindicator. Their sudden teleportation also slowed the scarab swarms from closing with the Salamanders. They had one moment of reprieve and T'nath was not going to squander it. He choose to call in the last drop pod containing the 5th squad with meltas to make a rear action against the necrons and determine what it was that landed so far away.

Landing askew of some ruins the pod doors blew open for the marines to see a horrible sight. A monolith had been displaced and was making ready to fire its weapons! The sergeant split his squad knowing that to bunch up would be deadly at such a close range. Leveling both meltas at it caused an explosion that nearly leveled the area. Only one battle brother failed to get up while on the other side of the pod Barugh, with his multimelta, proclaimed "This one's mine!" And so saying snapped a shot off that took the Necron overlord full in the back and it fell.

It was at this time that T'nath and the squad with him reached firing range of the Deathmarks and proceeded to slaughter them in revenge for the deaths of 4th squad. The hiss of flamer and bark of bolter went unheard as the deafening 'backdrop' of the surviving vindicator Hammer of Fury turned and fired nearly point blank upon the destroyers. They were sundered and only a smoking crater remained. It rained scarabs for a few moments after...

Though 5th squad had thought the Overlord dead it stood again and ran after the marines that had caused it harm. A warning shout caused Barugh to whirl his heavy weapon round and once more fire into the charging necron. With a rush of super-heated air the necron fell without a head and a disappeared in a green pop of energy.

"A deadly aim for sure Barugh" said the sergeant of the 5th squad. "Everyone settle into cover while I report the monolith and Overlord's destruction."

Sorting the reports T'nath felt the battle coming to a close. Of the initial forces only a warrior squad, two of the three spyders and the accured C'tan shard survived. "Focus everything on the c'tan construct." With lascannon, bolter, melta and plasma the xeno artifact disappeared in a green blast that eclipsed the monolith's explosion and all was quiet. It was 5th squad that broke the silence.

"My Lord, the necrons seem to be disappearing from our auspex." Indeed, as T'nath stretched his senses it felt like the necron aura was fading and then it was gone. "Understood Sergeant, everyone consolidate on the bastion to reload and take care of the wounded." Looking to his squad "View the bastion's records to determine when the last entry was made. We need to ascertain whether this outpost was abandoned or if they were killed by some necron trap."

"Epistolary, this is 7th requesting your presence. We found something you will want to see."

----

Epilogue

"And what did you find on Jurn T'nath?" inquired Varei. Having returned to the battle barge the librarian requested an immediate meeting with the chaplain and it Captain.

"A sort of necron device. It had many strange runes that glowed with an inner light, or so the 7th reports. When I arrived though they had faded just as the necrons had."

"Indeed? I suppose they arrived to find this device" stated the barge's captain.

"And you would be wrong. The marines there scanned the device throughout the battle and the results do not lie." He slide a dataslate towards the two marines.

"It has the same energy as the ork device?" uttered Mot'l.

"No," countered Varei "the ork device has the same energy signature as the Necrons! Vulkan's Forge if the orks are looting necron technology they either followed the orks here or this is a tomb world!"

"That was my conclusion Varei." Waving a hand, the psyker moved the a lever and the holofield light up with all the reports of ork activity. "If we eliminate the reports where there were survivors we see this." A strange zig zag flower pattern was viewed and the Captain voiced the answer.

"It's a search pattern; the orks have been looting or emulating necron tech and the necrons have been using the orks as cover. I'll need to report this to Captian Bo'ertol at once."

"There's no need for that Mot'l" Varei told the captain. "I received an update from Bo'ertol himself and he's coming here."

Salamanders 4th Company (mrwhoop, Order) vs Renegade Guard 2000pts
Planet: Valos, Dagon System
Planetstrike Depeserate Assault
Outcome: Victory 2 objectives-0

Forces
Captai Bo'ertol (Master of Maneuver, Stradegems: Death from Above and Smoke Shield)
artificer armor, bike, power sword/plasma pistol and melta bomb

Command Squad: bikes, champion, plasmagun, two combi meltas

Master of the Forge: bike, power axe

Troops
5 bikers: two flamers
5 bikers: two melta guns

10 man assault squad: power maul/hammer and stormshield, two flamers
10 man assault squad: thunder hammer, two plasma pistols
Stormtalon: typhoon missile launcher

Thunderfire Cannon: drop pod, locator beacon
Dreadnought: drop pod
Rifleman dread: drop pod, locator beacon


Renegade Guard
Primaris Psyker ( Dust of 1000 Worlds, Stradegems: trench, ammo stores, and minefield, Psychic powers: Hemorrhage and Endurance)

PCS: Chenkov, four meltas
Squad: sarge with pw/pp/mb, meltagun, autocannon
Squad: sarge with pw/pp, meltagun, autocannon
HWS: LC,ML,ML
HWS: LC,LC,ML
50 Conscripts:Send in the Next Wave

Penal Legion: vendetta with 3 LCs
Penal Legion: vendetta with 3 LCs

Basilisk
Lemon Russ: plasma sponsons
Lemon Russ: plasma sponsons

10 Ratlings
10 Psyker battle squad

Deployment

Various ruins along both table edges with three objectives along the diagonal. The middle one is a bastion he places the Psyker battle inside and the ratlings on top. The top most has Chenkov. Behind the bastion is a HWS, behind them is the two Russ's and basilisk. Lef tof them is another HWS. The right flank has the two guard squads in hills and behind a barricade. The barricade one has the Primaris. The conscripts are between me and the bastion. Both penal/vendettas are in reserve.

In this planetstrike I get d3 units on the table and choose the TFC:left flank to shoot the HWS or conscripts. The flamer bikes on the far right flank to get at a renegade guard squad. I attach the MotF to the CC squad and the Captain to outflank with the melta squad to get at the tanks should my firestorm prove weak.

Turn 1
I get 8 firestorms and wipe the basilisk, a LR, hurt a heavy weapon squad, and whiff on the bastion multiple times.

All my reserves save the MotF and CC bike squad come in. There goes my plan to use the locator beacons to steer in my assault squads. They don't scatter but still...
Also the Capt/squad comes on the right flank to shoot/assault the hill troops.

Shooting kills the other LR, the rest of the HWSs (thanks Drop Pod snap!)
The plasma assault squad gets into the Primaris squad while the flamer squad are unable to reach the conscripts

His turn sees the penals come in on either flank. At this point I realize I hadn't used smoke shield and pay for it with 5 dead flame bikers and 8 dead flame assault marines. The snipers pick off the techmarine and the TFC goes away. The plasma assault squad manages to kill the Primaris and squad but lose 2.

Turn 2
The MotF/CCS come in my side, and they with the DPs, Capt/Squad and PAS shoot up the ratlings (they flee) so the PAS can jump on the building later. The stormtalon causes the conscripts to start running.

FAS assaults the penal legion and they get stuck in.

His turn 2
He pulls the conscripts with SitNW misses with shooting/psychic powers

Turn 3
The MotF/CC squad moves towards the bastion. The MM dread, PAS and Capt/squad go for the bastion. Only the PAS make it into assault though killing 6.

His turn has the consripts back on his side and shooting at the capt. for a wound. The pyker squad roll low ap and leave the Capt and 1 biker. The lone flame assault marine dies to the penal and they consolidate 5" towards the rifle dread.

Turn 4

I separate the MotF and CC bikes, the former towards the lower right objective and the CC to the left penal vendetta. Captain towards the right vendetta with penal inside and the MM dread pops it from downtown killing 2. The Stormtalon attacks the upper left objective building causing a collapse and killing 3. The PAS assault from the battlements and kill the remaining psyker squad in the middle objective.

His turn 4
Little is down/moved

Turn 5
night fight occurs. The CC bikes wipe the left penal legion, the capt kills 2 on the right flank, the MotF still sits on the right objective and my rifledread tries to get at the 2 chenkovs members at the top left objective.

His turn 5
nothing he can do but wait and see if the game ends. If it does he wins as per the Planetstrike Desperate assault conditions

Game On!
Turn 6
Rifle dread wipes squad and the conscripts are too far to contest.
Imperial victory!

I cut it close but wasn't aware if he had ANY uncontested objectives I lost. Still it was close with a back and forth with my firestorm, his sniping and powers, then my assaults, then down to the last roll for the game to go on or end.

Prologue

While the majority of the company battled on Jurn, Captain Bo'ertol had a strike force waiting in the dead space between worlds waiting for the time to strike. When days became weeks and word of the cult uprising from Valos reached him he had already detailed a small recon force to establish a beachhead on Valos. For when the Inquisition message would arrive, and it would, Bo'ertol would already be able to strike back.

Capt. Bo'ertol was reviewing the latest recon from Sgt. Rig'n's bike squad. Marked Code Vermilion, Rig'n claimed that several Imperial guard regiments had betrayed their oaths to the Imperium and were fighting with cultists. Not too unexpected, thought the Salamander, but why such a high code. His thoughts were interrupted as the door opened revealing a full doorway. Folding in his mechidendrites, Cemin entered the quarters of the 4th Company's captain. As Master of the Forge, Cemin had many decades of alterations apparent and some well hidden. It was at this time however that a unique data port fitted into his arm was revealed. Most of his left forearm had been replaced and a holofield could be seen running a series of datafields that flickered from one schematic to another.

"Interrogative- have you seen the latest reports Bo'ertol?"

"I was just reading them; I take it the Omnissiah is piqued at this Vermilion code about renegade guard?"

"Negative- it is the object that they seek to defame that we seek authorization to intervene."

"And what artifact on Valos would that be?"

Showing his arm-holo to the captain, a dreadnought schematic appeared. "Stipulation- The Venerable Ceminach for whom we were named. During the 4th Black Crusade the Venerable Dreadnought was damaged and the sarcophagus was moved to another walker. The form was unable to house another and it was decided to donate it to Valos for quotation - 'significant sacrifices that had been made for this Chapter' -end quotation."

"I will allow some to fight for you Cemin, but most must remain with me for when the Inquisition asks for our forces on Valos or elsewhere."

With an increased volume the techmarine objected: "Discomposure- As Master of the Forge, Captain, we will acquire what forces are needed to secure this relic."

"While that may-" Bo'ertol faltered as a light began flashing on his desk and the screen turned itself on to show a slowly spinning stylized I.

Reducing his vocal emitter to previous levels Cemin could almost feel what he said. "Slight satisfaction- The Omnissiah sides with us this day Captain."

Bo'ertol of the 4th company sat down and as he listened to the Interrogator call for aid the Captain began reviewing what forces were at his disposal and how best to utilize the beachhead already at the besieged world.

----

Sgt. Rig'n rode his bike with a practiced ease. He and the Salamanders in his squad were a rare sight in their Chapter;relishing the speed that came with riding unto the field of battle for Emperor and Primarch they were few in number. Unlike the White Scars or Storm Giants, bikes were normally askewed for more steady transport. But his Captain of the 4th thought this was a dangerous weakness that could be exploited and so had approached him to begin finding and training his brothers that likewise thought thusly. And so it was that when Bo'ertol requested volunteers to make a beachhead at Valos Rig'n stepped forward and his squad of bikers had stepped up to the task. With the aid of a techmarine the mobile bikes could find and make a rough landing area at a moment's notice.

Day after day they patrolled and reported enemy movements, numbers, and their vile activities. Rig'n's squad had been returning from the path of a traitor army when they came upon the Venerable dreadnought shrine. The techmarine had estimated two days before the renegade guard would enter the area the shrine was located and requested to make an addendum to the sergeant's report before it was to be sent. So it was not a surprise when both the 4th company Captain andthe Master of the Forge Cemin arrived ordering landing coordinates and enemy disposition. Slowing near one out laying building of the shrine Rig'n addressed the four Salamanders.
"Our Captain and Master of the Forge have already landed and will make their way to join the battle once the assault starts. We can expect the usual drop pod assault as well as our Brothers in the Assault Squads. Capt. Bo'ertol wants a hammer so swift the enemy will find themselves broken before the battle has started."

"And what of Brother Kirn?" spoke up a newer recruit.

"The techmarine will establish a beacon for the landing forces as well as man a Thunderfire Cannon to disorient the newly turned traitors. For now we wait for targets of opportunity." As they waited they saw clouds of dust rise up and the forms of tanks appear, at least two Leman Russ battle tanks and a basilisk favored by the Imperial Guard. Turned traitor they had been daubed with awful sigils and company markings had been broken; desecrating the machine spirit's long roll of service. Then the waves of guardsmen came into view moving ahead of the slower tanks they came to the main building of the shrine and swarmed around and past it until the stench of the flooding press of bodies made itself known to Rig'n and his squad.

"What foulness have they walked through to assault the senses so?" uttered one biker.

"The worst kind Brother, heresy. Be ready to move, this scum moves to close too Brother Kirn for my liking." Though the techmarine seemed esoteric and aloof he still did his duty to Chapter and that was enough for Rig'n. His concern went unneeded as it was then that a number of blazing beams of energy struck the earth and began destroying the enemy forces:the assault had begun.

Working in concert with Techmarine Kirn's advance position, Cemin noted the countdown between blasts and the positions of the drop pods and Thunder Hawk. There was a margin of error of 19 seconds between the last orbital bombardment and the landing of the drop pods. Another 15 seconds and the Thunderhawk should be in sweeping in from the northeast for the 20 assault marines to make low jumps into battle. A precise matter that kept the Master's attention for .0025 seconds. He then began his scans of the area for the Venerable dreadnought as well as other components that were recorded as being 'donated' here. As blasts shook the shrine and tanks, artillery and men died by the handful they were of no consequence as Cemin focused on finding other treasures that the Omnissiah would desire to keep from harm. Even the precise landings of the plasma assault squad by the enemy leader, a witch of some power, was only a foot note in his battle report. A stray thought entered his mind, had he informed the sergeant of the rouge pysker's abilities? Inconsequential- the scan required his attention and the sergeant would do his duty.

With the enemy disoriented, two dreadnoughts stepped out of the drop pods and began firing into the rear armors of tanks and ranks of heretics. Heavy weapon teams were unable to react let alone set up their lascannons or missile launchers. Brother Kirn manned the Thunderfire cannon, raking the enemies with awesome firepower that continued to daze them.

Then the turbines of a powerful engine were heard and seemed to echo around. Not sure where the sound was coming from the guardsmen looked around in bewilderment. And confused they were for it was both a Thunderhawk and a Stormtalon. The former ran low and dropped off it's two squads of jump troops while the latter raked the conscripts with bolt shell and missile. Using the packs to slow their descent the assault squads landed. One was tasked with attacking the enemy leader, the other had changed their target to protect the techmarine from the mass of bodies.

"Heretic! Your days of revolting against the Master of Mankind is at an end!" yelled the Sergeant of the plasma assault squad. "Face my Hammer and I will break you!" The squad firing they charged and slammed into the leader unit. While the assault squad made short work of the traitors, they found the leader was in fact a witch and had used the awful powers of the warp to lay low their Sergeant...

The other assault squad used their flamers on the conscripts to allow time for them to assault but find too many have died to make the charge. The 10 man squad of Salamanders look on as some three dozen lasguns are leveled at them.

With a roar of his engines the Captain and a squad of melta bikers flank the enemy from the northeast. Guns firing as they approached an emplaced squad taking heavy casualties and find that their rocky hill does not slow the marine bikes as they assault as well.

It seems the Space Marines have already leveled the threats but also were late to attack. For inside the shrine a psychic cry had gone out and been answered in the form of two vendettas full of Penal legion guard. These men and women had been condemned to save their souls by fighting for the God-Emperor but with the revolt had eagerly joined forces. One vendetta flanked each side and the left penal legion disembarked to fire upon the flamer assault marines. With concentrated fire from them and the conscripts 8 of the 10 Salamanders fell.

The psykers inside the shrine also focused their strength and reaching into the Empyrean ripped aside the fabric of reality to allow a storm or raw energy wash over the biker squad of Sgt. Rig'n. When normality was restored nothing was left, not one nut or bolt shell. The psykers were not alone however. A group of the abhuman ratling snipers had taken the high ground and chosen the techmarine as a prime target. 10 resounding shots later and the TFC became silent...

In the Captain's skirmish the enemy had been swept and as they rode off the rocks towards the shrine found their number one less. The skeet and other loose debris proved disastrous for one melta toting marine. "Stow your gear when traversing such terrain Brothers!" reprimanded Bo'ertol. He noted that the Assault Squad tasked with killing the Witch had done so with the lives of three marines while the other had landed far from it's intended target of flaming the shrine of occupants and was paying for it in far too much blood.

And so it was that Master of the Forge Cemin took all this data in and concluded that the bastion had a 92% chance of turning aside even this most devastating opening to a battle. "Insistent- the main shrine is our target. Move out." So saying Cemin and Bo'ertol's Command Squad revved their bike's engines and made to enter the battle. They came close to the shrine but Cemin's targeter notified all that their weapons would fail to harm the building or it's occupants. "Annoyance- target the snipers to avenge Techmarine Kirn." and using his array had the drop pod storm bolters link up with his targeter.

Seeing Cemin shooting the Shrine roof Captain Bo'ertol added his squads bolter fire and soon he could see the small bodies of ratlings jumping over the sides. He also noted that Rig'n's squad had disappeared from the list of units deployed. It had no information whether they had left, died or lost the ability to transmit. Disconcerting though this was he continued to move toward the shrine. The Stormtalon makes a low pass at the conscripts and Bo'ertol notes a satisfaction when the enemy mass begins fleeing from the flyer. It was proving to be a good requisition and allowed for the swifter reactions his battle plans required.

On the other side of the battle the last two assault marines recovered from the deluge of fire from the penal legion and conscripts. "What now brother?" asked one. "Do we avenge ourselves for the dead or do we assault the prisoners for their debasement of Imperial Law?"

"The Stormtalon rids us of the former, let us show these penal legion why our laws must be cruel to be just." Nodding his assent the marines jump into the prisoners with flame and chainsword to mete out justice.

At this time a junior officer in the ranks of the traitor guard in a rear building makes a vox. "The common folk flee, send more to deal with these 'angels of death'." Looking to his comrades "We'll drown them in bodies and then re-purpose these buildings into a forward post."

Back at the shrine the Salamander captain order all available units to charge the building. Sensing this the psykers inside somehow manage to stretch the distance making any assault seem impossible. Not so for the plasma assault squad. Having dealt with the Alpha witch they were immune to such tricks and managed to get several krak grenades into windows an doors. The sharp krumps and screams satisfy the marines that if any still live, they're not in one piece now.

During this Cemin's scan had revealed a strange reaction to the lower building that Rig'n's squad had reported and so decided that his abilities may be required elsewhere. This shuffling of priorities caused him to miss the 50 newly arrived traitors behind the captain's position. It was that and a new wave of energy from the surviving psykers that caused 3 bikers to be brought low. "By the flame what just happened!" Regaining their balance the last surviving biker and his Captain swerved away from the shrine and straight into the right flanking vendetta!

"Brother the prisoners seek to surround us we must--" but as the assault marine looked back he saw he was alone. The conscripts had killed 8 of his squad and now he was alone. If he was to be broken on this anvil, he was going to make the enemy pay dearly. Moments later, the traitor guard were kicking the fallen remains and when finally certain the two giants in green armor were not getting up moved towards the post where the junior officer had ordered them to recover.

Seeing that the left flank was lost, Cemin ordered the Command Squad "Directive- ensure the enemy is destroyed and our Dreadnoughts safe." Moving to the lower outer building he began inspecting it for signs of tampering or traps. With his auspex declaring the area clear he began to make his way further into the building to secure the artifacts there for the Chapter.

It was at this time though that the initial dreadnoughts that had entered the fray via drop pod to attack tanks made their presence known again. Both dreadnoughts open up with their guns. Four autocannons stitch lines of fire across the left vendetta at point blank range causing it to veer widely and trail smoke as the engines stall. The other vendetta gets a surprise as a multimelta takes it from across the battlefield with the resulting explosion killing some prisoners inside. The Captain wastes no time in activating the bolters on his bike adding to the tally of dead. This is washed out by the sound of a collapsing building. The earlier vox was traced by the machine spirit of the Stormtalon and consequently a target of opportunity before the flyer left the battlefield.
"Capt Bo'ertol, this is AS1 entering the shrine. Beginning rites of cleansing now."

"Understand AS1, how did you enter without the psykers being aware?"

"They were aware sir. The roof was weakened and did not support our weight." Hearing some chuckles from the squad's frequency Bo'ertol allowed himself a smile. Best to see the moment now and grieve the losses after. Moments later the squad confirmed control of the shrine and a dreadnought confirmed the junior officer had also been killed. With no leadership or communications the fresh flood of bodies and the retreating prisoners would be easy cleanup. After all, what weapons could such rabble bring to bear against a hulking tower of ceremite that was a dreadnought?

----

Epilogue

With planet-fall made and a site secured Bo'ertol finally sat down to read the roll of the dead. While some Salamanders had slipped into suspended animations by way of the Sus-an membrane he was still puzzled about the disappearance of Sgt Rig'n's bike squad. He gave voice to his thoughts in the form of a prayer to the Emperor that the entities of the warp had not taken them. "Guide them home Father, whether to your Throne or hide them from the reach of the demonic, guide them home." He recited other prayers as well from the Promethean Cult speeding the souls of the dead to His side and Vulkan's Forge.

A rapping sound coming form the door broke his reverie and he rose. "Enter"

"Interrogatory- Is this juncture available for discourse?"

"Of course Master Cemin, what news of the machine spirits and dreadnoughts?"

The techmarine entered and stood across from the space marine captain with the simple altar between them. "The spirits have been placated and a number of relics have been preserved from the Arch Enemy."

"Then they've been sighted nearby?" Thoughts racing through his mind Bo'ertol suddenly worried if he had only moments before Chaos detection or if his forces numbered enough to fight off traitor marines.

"Elucidation- Confirmed, several days away or so the Stormtalon reports. Its...relay was unspecific. We should consolidate our holding and prepare to continue the preservation of Valos.

Was it his imagination or had the techmarine altered his last word? No matter thought Bo'ertol "Your counsel is most welcomed for fortifying this position Master Cemin. If you'll excuse me, I am reminded that I most report our success to the Interrogator so that our forces can exploit this opening."

"Sympathetic- We will proceed to strengthen the outlying buildings and continue to prepare, Captain." Nodding, Master of the Forge Cemin left the 4th company's Captain to begin denoting the strengths and weaknesses of his current position. "Ah, I suppose Chaplain Varei will want to know I'll be returning shortly to see how our Librarian is faring against the orks..."