Welcome to game 16 in our ongoing campaign. In this battle, the head of the Ministorum on Ameti attempts to carry out a covert mission in dangerous territory - a target of opportunity for the Chaos forces..
Previous games in this campaign can be found here (photos now working!! well, for this campaign at least)
http://www.dakkadakka.com/wiki/en/Gordy2000%27s_Battle_Reports
The Imperial forces have captured a nearby strategic bridge, but Renegade forces are still present in the area in large numbers. The High Ecclesiarch of Ameti Hive has, somewhat rashly, elected to tour the ruins of a recently discovered holy site, hoping to secure rumored relics before they fall into the hands of the Ruinous Powers. Unbeknownst to the Church, enemy spies have located the site and, even now, renegade forces are approaching, hoping for the coup of killing or capturing the senior cleric on Triskelion IV. Such a feat would be a huge boost for the Chaos forces and a severe blow to Imperial morale.
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The High Ecclesiarch strode through the low ruins, his entourage hurrying to keep up with his purposeful strides. He made a bee-line for the small group of church militia crowded around a recently unearthed stone sarcophagus.
The ancient tomb was still wet from the soil from which it had been pulled only hours before.
As the ecclesiarch approached, his eyes traced the faded stonework on the slab-sides of the casket. Ancient symbols of his order could still be made out. Could this truly be what he had been seeking all this time? Surely it was a gift from the Emperor himself…
His focus was suddenly broken by shouts of alarm. Church troops on the low walls around the dig site were pointing to the south and brandishing weapons. The enemy was upon them!
Inwardly cursing the poor timing, the Ecclesiarch raised his voice over the din.
“Soldiers of the Emperor! Be stalwart in your defence! Today, we fight not just for our world, but to recover a most holy relic, revealed to us by the Emperor himself!”
His words were answered by a fanatical roar from his forces. They rushed to defensible positions amidst the ruins as the first ranging shots from the approaching Chaos forces began to fall amongst them….
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The ruins of the ancient abbey. The Ecclesiarch can be seen with his entourage near the rear wall.
Church troops man the walls
Penitent engines prowl the surrounding area
Captain Faruz, hoping to redeem himself after his defeat at the bridge, leads the Chaos force from Horseback
Chaos mechanised infantry moves up
...along with mortar support
Chaos militia infiltrate from the woods, surprising the church flank and mowing down several defenders
But the Church is not alone – nearby Ranger units have responded to hails for assistance
But will they make it before the small church force is overrun?
One of the Penitent Engines deals with the flanking attack
Burn heretics!
The Chaos force closes in
They concentrate their firepower on the Penitent Engines, identifying the only threat to the Chaos armoured units
To good effect
Ranger Sentinels appear, but too far from the action to yet intervene
The Ranger Chimeras sacrifice firepower for speed as they dash towards the church positions
The Chaos units continue to hammer the church defenders with shell and flame
The Penitent Engines are felled
As the Chaos armour approaches the defences, the militia fanatics charge out to meet them!
Meanwhile, the first Ranger Chimera arrives and deploys its troops to safeguard the Ecclesiarch
Protect His Holiness!
Renegade infantry close in
As do the (now) much feared cavalry
The Church troops damage the Renegade land crawler
The noose tightens…
The church militia attacks take their toll and the land crawler burns
But they are now hopelessly surrounded
And are whittled down by small arms fire
The Ecclesiarch at bay…
A Renegade plasma gunner lines up his shot to take out the head of the Church on-world….and the Emperor protects!
The Ranger squad comes under heavy fire, losing 3 men, as it links up with the Ecclesiarch and his retinue
The fanatic militia are finally overrun
The Chimera pop smoke as they desperately attempt to survive the heavy fire and extract the Ecclesiarch, who is now aboard the lead vehicle
With little resistance left, the Renegade forces surge forwards
Surrounded…
Disaster! The foremost Chimera with the Ecclesiarch on board is charged by the Renegade cavalry and knocked out
So much for that extraction…
The Ecclesiarch and surviving rangers bail out of the stricken tank
Get aboard! The Rangers hustle the Ecclesiarch and his entourage onto the surviving Chimera, which escapes under the cover fire of the Sentinels (better late than never)
The Ecclesiarch survives (by the skin of his teeth) Imperial victory!
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Now that was a near run thing! When the Renegade cavalry took out the lead Chimera, I thought the gig was up, but by more luck than judgement, the second Chimera was just close enough for the Ecclesiarch to reach it and mount up – and away they sped.
The Chaos team only just missed out – defeat snatched from the jaws of victory!
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The High Ecclesiarch sat in the cramped interior of the Chimera as it sped away from the battle. His magnificent robes were muddied and torn, but his person was whole. He supposed he could live with a little indignity, given the circumstances.
“Glad we got you, your holiness” Called the sergeant from the seat across the cabin “That was a near run thing”
The Ecclesiarch granted the soldier a small nod. The man’s address was incorrect and would normally invite sanction, but today he would be generous and let it slide. Besides, he thought as he idly tapped the object snatched in the confusion from the ruins and now safely secreted beneath his robes, his mission this day had been a great success….
The Emperor protects indeed.
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