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Welcome to game 32 of our ongoing campaign.

After a period of quiet, the Eldar once again begin to ply their influence in the Triskelion system.
To what ends the xenos work to, remains, as always, a mystery.

Imperial prognosticators have divined increased psychic activity on one of the moons orbiting the main Triskelion core world,
activity bearing the unmistakable signature of the Eldar.
Fearing more interference in Imperial battleplans, a rapid response force of Deathwatch has been dispatched to investigate,
led by the relentless Inquisitor Bellerophon.
Previous games in this campaign can be found here: http://www.dakkadakka.com/wiki/en/Gordy2000%27s_Battle_Reports

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The soft hiss of micro particles hitting the exterior of the Valkyrie was the only sound in the cramped interior as the gunship glided in the low gravity of the moon,
engines off and running silent. Inquisitor Bellerophon sat in the jump seat, head down over his power sword as he mouthed a last prayer of warding to the Emperor.

Around him, the dim shapes of his retinue sat silently in the darkened troop bay.

A light illuminated on the Inquisitors wrist mounted comms unit, followed by a crackle of static in his comms-bead.

“My Lord, Purgation force is now in place. We have identified xenos activity at the target site. Infantry and armour units reported.
They appear to be retrieving equipment and items of some kind. Identification ongoing. Firing solutions confirmed.”

Bellerophon lifted his head and tapped his ear.
“Message received Purgation. I think we shall need a closer look at what there Eldar are up to. Let us begin.”

His order was transmitted to all units of the assault force, and no sooner had it left his lips the Valkyrie's engines roared into life, propelling the gunship towards the drop site.

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The surface of the moon, with the ancient ruins at the top




The Eldar guard their recently unearthed artifacts with a sizeable force




Mighty heroes stalk the ruins


Armoured units and heavy weapons complete the central defence


While picket units watch the approaches




As if to confirm the importance of the undertaking to the Eldar, an Avatar of Khaine is present


With a roar of super-charged engines, the Inquisition force attacks




Inquisitor Bellerophon leads his retinue


While the Valkyrie provides air support


The Deathwatch advance


Razorbacks target the Eldar heavy weapons platforms


The gunship strafes the xenos picket units


Eldar return fire slows the advance of the imperials


The Falcon opens fire on the incoming Deathwatch armour


Amongst the ruins, the Eldar forces wait


Scorpions prepare to repel any infantry attack


Inquisitor Bellerophon bravely advances behind the Deathwatch dreadnaught to avoid incoming fire


Fire from the Falcon cripples a Razorback. It remains in place providing fire support


More Razorbacks take its place


The Falcon takes fire and is damaged


The last Eldar weapons platforms are eliminated


A Vindacare assassin picks off Eldar infantry at extreme range


The Valkyrie drops its payload of Deathwatch and Inquisition forces on top of the now depleted Scorpions




The Flacon is knocked out and now the Eldar defenders are at the mercy of long-range fire from the Deathwatch


A teleport flare announces the arrival of the Deathwatch elite on the Eldar flank


Inquisitor Torquemada and his retinue, recently arrived by Valkyrie, cut down the last Scorpions


The Deathwatch press in on the defenders from all sides




Kill Teams debus from their transports in preparation of the final assault








The Eldar forces are now seriously depleted. The end appears near


The Vindacare takes careful aim…


…and fells the Eldar hero


The Avatar soaks up fire from the Terminator squad




The final assault commences






But the Eldar’s sacrifices have held off the Imperials for just long enough – with a whirl of sorcery the Farseer spirits his remaining forces and the artefacts away


Foiled! Torquemada can only rage in frustration as the prize is denied the Deathwatch. Whatever perfidy the Xenos were up to, the Inquisition has arrived to late to prevent it.


Eldar (Pyrrhic) victory!


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Bellerophon found his colleague kicking over loose flagstones amongst the now deserted ruins.
Deathwatch marines stalked the area, putting bolt rounds through the head of any fallen Eldar.

“Nothing” snorted Torquemada. “The perfidious Eldar have stolen away whatever items they found here.”

Bellerophon said nothing. Bending down he looked more closely at the ruins themselves.

“Old” he muttered. “Pre-imperial, by quite a margin I’d wager”.

“So?” sneered Torquemada “What matter is it where the vile xenos grub about in the dirt?”

“It matters” Bellerophon said as he straightened, “Because my own studies have revealed this system once held an extra world,
now lost and likely scattered across the solar disc as an asteroid field. The Eldar once held dominion here,
and who knows what terrible weapons of theirs may yet wait under the rocks of these worlds?”

Torquemada frowned as the implications sunk in. “Do your studies suggest what shape these lost weapons may take Inquisitor?”

Bellerophon shrugged. “Only fragments of lore. Any guesses would be speculative.
We can be sure however, that we will find out from across the battlefield in due course.”

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Well, that was a last-minute twist. The Eldar were on the ropes at the end.

However, the secret game length meant they managed to achieve their victory condition just as the Deathwatch closed in for the final blow.

The Eldar force did it hard this battle, with the Deathwatch eliminating all the heavy weapons early and then blasting the defenders apart as they closed in from a distance.
The arrival of the Terminators sealed the deal.

Nevertheless, the sneaky Xenos pulled off the win. Observant viewers may note what those artifacts came from, and just what the Eldar may resurrect for use in future battles….

Next up, back to Triskelion itself as the Death Korps of Krieg launch a major, multi-battle assault against the outer ring of defences of the fallen Chaos hive. Tanks! Artillery! Trenches! Oh my!

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Quite interesting to see such a flat table for a change. Of course narrative games can make that work as well, just something one rarely sees nowadays.

Those dastardly Eldar, I wonder if that bit has something to do with the giant head they uncovered in earlier games...

Also: tanks! Artillery! Trenches! Oh my, gimme!

Thanks Sherrypie - I would comment on your guess re the artefact, but that would be telling….

Yes, we decided that the surface of a moon should be pretty featureless, apart from the obligatory craters. Not a lot of cover! Of course, our armies are typically chosen by what we think looks cool, rather than what’s the most OP.

Will get the next games posted a bit more quickly (lockdowns etc has made gaming difficult over the last year or so). I think the DKK grinding assault operation are some of my favourite games of the campaign.

Once again, Gordy pulls off a magnificent blockbuster battle report! Gorgeous terrain and models as always - I await the next chapter in the saga with baited breath

Here's another vote in favour of "Tanks, Trenches and Artilery, oh my!".
Nice report!