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(My apologies for the lack of pictures! I need to buy a decent camera))
Prelude:
Spoiler:
It had been a difficult fight over the civilized world of Kalori for the Kinlad Liberation Army. For one reason or another the Imperium was desperate to hold the planet against the rebel armies. Even the Adeptus Astartes, and a good sized force of several chapters at that, had been sent to stem the tide. However, the rebels were well prepared for them. Several of the precious few Leman Russ Executioners had been allocated by the Premier himself to take the world. Vanquishers had been sent as well though most of them were reserved for tank Commanders. Amongst those Commanders was renowned tank ace and overall commander over 1st Mechanized Army Tylor Varston.
Supporting the armored spear were the brave and salty shock troopers of 1st Shock Army. These men were outfitted with only the best that the KLA could offer: Lascannons, Plasma Guns, Meltaguns and even Chimeras. Why so many precious resources were seemingly squandered over the insignificant world of Kalori is a mystery. Some, like Colonel Resaul Stren, believe that it's a show of force for the Imperium: to prove that the Premier's armies were not to be trifled with. Overall the Kinlad troopers had more than accomplished this goal. During the Battle of Valoris City a combined force of Ultramarines and Dark Angels, supported by Grey Knights, were bested by a contingent of shock troopers and Cadian troopers that had joined their cause. During the 2nd Battle of Valoris City the Dark Angel counterattack had been stemmed by a spirited defense from the KLA though no meaningful gains were accomplished.
It had been two long months since then. Valoris City still remained in the hands of the Imperium despite taking grievous losses. Rebel saboteurs, infiltrators and agitators had done their job in making the Imperials' lives a living hell. However, it was ultimately up to the brave men and women of the rebels to take the city. This would be a difficult task since the vanguard of 1st Shock Army had also taken their share of the losses and could not mount an all out offensive without reinforcements. Worse yet, the Imperials had retaken the main gates leading into the city and had established local air superiority making armored support all but impossible. This meant that in order to press the defenders the rebels would have to get through the alien forests surrounding it. This was no easy task since, in addition to fighting the terrain itself, the Imperium had predicted such a move and had sent the Flesh Tearers force to counter the rebel offense. The Flesh Tearers had studied the Kinlad's method of waging war and equipped themselves accordingly: Lascannons, meltaguns and assault troops would be the order of the day. Can the KLA finally make the break through they need? Will the brave defenders of mankind avenge their fallen brethren and purge the traitors from the Emperor's domain? Only time will tell.
It was a sunny day in the green forests of Kalori. The blue sky stretched out for miles on end, white puffs lazily floated overhead and sunshine illuminated seas of lovely green. It was a serene and beautiful sight... save for the grimy, scorched, sooty and smelly Leman Russ tanks that trundled forward. Following such filthy tanks were the equally filthy Chimera transport vehicles. This particular force was one of many making the armored thrusts through the forests. Trees were crushed underneath tread as these massive tanks continued their ponderous advance. The commander of the leading tank, a Leman Russ Vanquisher bristling with anti tank weapons, was sitting semi-comfortably in his turret. He was exposed from the waist up. The commander, Lord Tylor Varston, knew the dangers of being in such a position but he preferred to see things with his own eyes. He looked through a small range finder. In the distance, through the tree line, he saw a blood red color and a defined edge. The tell tale signs of a vehicle.
"Karshoff's Will", a voice crackled through the vox, "This is Deathwing's Bane. Do you come in?". It was one of the plasma tanks asking for Varston. "This is Karshoff's Will, I hear you loud and clear", Tylor said. "My lord, I spot a Space Marine tank, 500 meters north west. Can you confirm?", she asked. The General put his range finder down and squinted in the direction given. He saw the vehicle, a Vindicator if he recalled. "I see it, buddy. Taking a shot", Tylor said, "Loader! I need a HEAT round!". The loader nodded and put a round with a sharp tip to it. Varston ducked down to make use of the optics. He rotated the turret, centered the cross hairs on the vehicle and fired a shot. Through the green monochromatic screen he could see the tank explode violently. "Nice shot, my lord! But there's more of them! A lot more! I'm seeing another vindicator, 2 razor backs and a bunch of infantry", the Commander of Deathwing's Bane said.
Tylor said over the vox, "Column, come to an immediate halt. Warm up those Plasma Guns and get ready for some action". The tanks stopped in their tracks. "Fire at will!", he ordered. The Leman Russes opened up on the Flesh Tearers. Deathwing's Bane, eager to slay more angels, fired off it's guns readily at the assault marines coming their way. Several at the front rank were reduced to hot slag as the Plasma guns bathed them. However, one of the younger sponson gunners fired his weapon perhaps too eagerly and caused it to overheat. The immediate area around the plasma cannon melted partially and the gunner himself had to take off his gloves before they melded to his skin.
Inside the Chimeras, shock troopers prepared their weapons for battle. The hatches were opened up, crates were magnetized and stacked to give the troopers a position to fire from. Even their issued Lascannons were propped up on top of the hulls. Colonel Stren barked orders at his shock troopers through the vox network. "Get those guns up, maggots, we got some marines to kill!", he yelled. One of the Plasma Gunners looked very nervous. He said, "It's the Emperor's Angel's of Death! His judgement is upon us! I-it isn't too late to r-repent!". Stren laughed and said, "Son, take a look outside". The shock trooper did so. He was treated to the sight of another Vindicator being destroyed by the General's tank.
However, the big hole where the vanquisher cannon used to be was unnerving. "There are your Angels of Death, soldier. No more immortal than you or me, don't let their fancy gadgets fool you... but don't underestimate them either. They're tough as nails... thank lady luck you got the Plasma Gun there", he said. The shock trooper nodded and sat back down, holding the Plasma Gun close.
As soon as the Vindicators were eliminated things were starting to look bleaker for the KLA. The Razorbacks had closed the distance along with the assault marines. Though the barrage of Plasma Fire had whittled the astartes down to around 5 or so they were still a threat. They activated their jump packs and smashed Deathwing's Bane into a pile of scrap. The other Plasma Tank, Doom of Ultramar, did manage to destroy the other Razorback with sustained fire. The marines inside it had survived intact, mostly, and were now charging at the Leman Russ.
To make matters worse a drop pod landed in the middle of the formation. When it opened a black dreadnought stepped out. It targetted Varston's tank and fired it's multi-melta point blank. The vehicle began to belch black smoke from it's engine from the shot but it managed to remain functional. It attempted to pivot to take out the dreadnought but it could do little against it's formidable attacks. The side of the tank, Land Breaker, was torn to shreds and half the crew with it. A barrage of fire from the nearby shock troopers ended the Dreadnought.
Tylor Varston, who had taken cover inside the turret, was coughing from the smoke that wafted through the air. He put on his rebreather and goggles and went back down to the driver's position. The driver was cowering in his seat. Varston looked at the massive hole that was once the side of his tank. It tore the tracks, the suspension and part of the engine into pieces. He reached over to the driver controls and tried engaging the Lascannon. It would not function. "What now, my lord?", the Sponson gunner asked. "We wait, I suppose, and hope that the shock troopers can do their job", he said.
"Keep that fire up!", Resaul Stren said. He was making sure that not a single shot would be wasted. A Plasma Gunner dropped his hot weapon and screamed in pain as his hands were burnt black. Resaul got the squad medic to treat him and kept the other plasma gunners in line. The Chimera's crew were also firing their weapons nearly nonstop to keep the Space Marines from getting to them, as they had to the vehicle to the left of them. The chimera was destroyed in a spectacular explosion. Though, most of the shock troopers had managed to escape the conflagration and began firing into the same Space Marine squad that had nearly ended their lives. The Flesh Tearers, who desired nothing more than to devour these traitors, were being melted into the ground by meltaguns. Another Flesh Tearer squad made it to the final remaining Plasma tank though their numbers had been reduced into nothingness. Resaul's Lascannon team managed to destroy the drop pod in front of them. Stren knew better than to leave a marine vehicle in working order.
Ultramar's Doom somehow managed to make it out of combat from the marines attacking it. However, the Chimera to it's immediate right, a vehicle laden with meltaguns, was under attack. The assault marines had destroyed the turret and the tortured tank was spewing oily black smoke. The Plasma Tank on it's part fired more shots at the Flesh Tearers it had escaped and was doing some damage. The Flesh Tearer's that were threatening Stren's tank were slain to a man. The main brunt of the Space Marine counter attack had been weathered. It was now clean up time.
+++++++Message of the People: Rights are not a guaranteed fact of life. They are a privilege that is lusted after by those in power.+++++++++
Epilogue:
Spoiler:
Colonel Resaul Stren lead the shock troopers on clean up duty. The Flesh Tearers had either been beaten back or were slain. He picked through the Astartes fallen. Whenever one would stir he would have his meltagunner melt him into the ground. "Marines... useless", he remarked after such an execution. Tylor Varston come up to Stren. The Colonel saluted the general as did his retinue. "My Lord", Stren said. "Ah, you fat bastard you don't have to be so formal", Tylor said with a grin. "Good ol' Ty... so, what's the damage?", Stren asked. "We took more than we lost, both in personnel and armored vehicles but... reports are coming in that our southern flank has been driven back and our northern flank had advanced too damned far for reinforcements to make it to them. It's a mess, Colonel", he says.
Stren nodded, "Yeah, we've been through worse. Remember Greywatch?". "I remember. Me and my men spent half the campaign fighting on foot to support basilisk and aircraft crew who had been bogged down. Damned xenos were good at taking out our armor. Well, Stren, we got a working tank, two Chimeras, one barely functional and a bunch of guys without a transport. I think we have more than enough to fix southern flank's problem... that'll be the easy part", the General said. "What's the hard part?", he asked. "Valoris City".
Thought for the day: Hope is the first step on the road to disappointment.
30k Ultramarines: 2000 pts
Bolt Action Germans: ~1200 pts
AOS Stormcast: Just starting.
The Empire : ~60-70 models.
1500 pts
: My Salamanders painting blog 16 Infantry and 2 Vehicles done so far!