The Lance: Chapter 3: Pitch Black.
Link to previous battle report
http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/513937.page
(Things of note: In Zone Mortalis, you are stuck in “Corridors” or trenches, which practically prevents vehicle usage, Dangerous terrain tests abound, and importantly, Flamers and blast weapons ALL have the SHRED special rule, allowing them to –re roll to wound. For overwatch, the squad firing overwatch makes an initiative test, if they pass, they fire overwatch at full
BS, otherwise they fire snap shots. Also, all ties are won by the defender at the end of the game.)
The Thunderhawk touched down hard outside the trenches on Centauri IV, the ruins of a once grand imperial city encompassing the trench network. Captain Christos Xiphos strode forth from the belly of the beast, hefting his thunder hammer onto his shoulder, his artificer armor shining brightly in the dust-choked air.
Meanwhile, his Sternguard bodyguards, as well as Sergeant Picius’s tactical marines joined his command squad on the ground, Apothecary Kairos leading the men.
“Xiphos to Strike Cruiser Mataris, we’ve touched down outside the trench complex, Emperor be praised."
"We go to war! Move Out!”
“AVE IMPERATOR!
TO WAR!” Roared his men, itching for the fight.
The Silver Lances (Attackers)
Captain Xiphos (Artificer Armor, Thunder Hammer, Digital Weapons)
Command Squad. X4 Plasma Rifles
x10 Sternguard x5 Combi-Flamers x5 Combi Plasma
x10 Tactical Marines Flamer, Sergeant w/ Power Weapon
x10 Tactical Marines Flamer, Sergeant w/ Power Weapon
The Ursine Claws (Defenders)
x1 Dark Apostle, Black Mace
x15 Cultists, x2 flamers
X10 Plague Marines x2 Flamers, Plasma Pistol
x10 Khorne Berzerkers, Chainaxes, Plasma Pistol
x10 Chaos Space Marines, x2 Flamers
Somewhere in the bowls of the trench network, Dark Apostle Terrak rallied the force of darkness to himself. The majority of his men were engage elsewhere, however, he had anticipated the defeat of the imperium in the mountains, rather than the other way around. A blaring siren alerted him to the presence of intruders in the network.
“Come here scum! Bring the flamers, we will burn out these dogs, and earn the favor of the great gods! To Battle! To War!”
The cultist mob around him screams their approval and supplications, whipped into a frenzy. Meanwhile in the shadows, the chosen of Khorne and Nurgle waited anxiously for death and slaughter.
The Trenches (You can't shoot, or move over cover)
Turn 1
The Chaos forces deploy and pick an key intersection for their ambush, hurrying into their positions, plague marines and cultists both holding key areas.
The Marines Entered in a Spearhead, Xiphos leading from the front, however, down below, the shine of his armor could not even brighten the area around them.
Auspex was intermittent, as another round of artillery hammered into the area, toppling a building in the distance into the trenches, likely crushing whatever was beneath it.
The marines run, following the auspex readings, much to the traitor’s delight.
“They are close Karios, I know it in my bones.” Says the Captain, rolling his shoulders and stretching his neck.
“That and my nose…Something smells putrid.” Replies the Apothecary in subdued manner.
Turn 2
The traitors prepare to spring their trap, as the marines stride into view, their leader, of course, leading in the front with a command squad, the sound of cocking weapons echoes eerily in the darkness of the tunnels.
The pounding of the Khorne Berzerkers entering the fray is matched by Sergeant Picius’ squad in the distance.
Upon hearing the trap preparing to spring, the command squad bursts into a sprint, charging towards the cutlist horde. Dark Apostle Tarrak screams “FIRE! SKULLS FOR KHORNE!” As the cultists lay down precise volleys of fire and flamer, killing every marine aside from Xiphos and Karios, both remaining uninjured the cultist horde manages to push back the assault with their fire, and then prepares to move.
“CONTACT! TRAITOR MARINES, AREA DESIGNATE ZONE MORTALIS! FOR THE EMPEROR! PURGE THEM!” Yells Xiphos into vox, altering imperial forces to the threat.
Turn 3
More Chaos Marines enter the battlefield, as the cutlists stand in plain view, weapons leveled at the remains of the command squad, as Plague Marines stalk into view behind them.
In the distance, khorne’s chosen continue running towards the fray. Meanwhile another building falls in the bombardment, toppling onto a combat squad of Picius’ squad, however the marines’ armor saves them from a grisly demise.
The frothing culist horde, and the plague marines all open fire on the command squad.
“Karios!”
The captain shoves the apothecary out of the line of fire, four flamers and countless small arms splashing across him. For a moment, the apothecary thought him lost, as he lost sight of him in the firestorm.
He emerges untouched, but pockmarked from the bullets that have struck him. He hefts his thunder hammer to meet the charge of the cultists, and is challenged by the cultist leader, a simple man with a shotgun.
After deflecting his attacks, the captain caves the man’s skull in with a single mighty blow, his heresy ended.
“ALL HERETICS MUST FALL! DIE SCUM!”
Apothecary Karios was forced to deal with the brunt of the assault, as 10 cultists try to pry open his armor, however a steady flow of combat drugs manages to keep him on his feet. Their chaos marine leader howls in pain as a surge of demonic energy flows from his weapon, and into him, rather than his enemy, and the apothecary manages to survive the incoming attacks.
The Sternguard stand to, with one combat squad opening fire on the plague marines with their combi-flamers, incidentally cutting down the entire cultist squad in melee with the command squad, aside from their leader. The second combat squad letting loose plasma fire on the Khorne berzerkers, cutting several down, however, one marine is claimed by malfunctioning plasma guns, as the enemy’s terrible supplications upset the weapon’s machine spirit.
“YOU! CHAOS MARINE! YOU ARE MINE”
“YOUR SKULL WILL MAKE A FINE PRIZE, CORPSE-SLAVE!”
The two marines lock weapons, the dark apostle raining blows on the Captain, his spiked mace eagerly seeking his blood. However with the attentions of the apothecary, the Dark Apostle fails to cause any lasting damage to the Marine Captain.
The Captain spits blood from his mouth, having weathered the storm, launching an attack of his own, digital lasers firing into his opponent’s face, stunning him. He follows with a pommel strike with his hammer, and then a ferocious uppercut with his hammer, connecting with the chaos leader’s chin, reducing his head into a fine mist with a cacophonous boom.
“VICTORY FOR THE 4TH! FIGHT ON MEN!”
The Command Squad steps back from the melee, allowing the relatively fresh sternguard, and tactical marines behind them to advance.
Turn 4
More buildings crumble into dust and fall onto squads of both sides, the plague marines weather the storm, however a marine elsewhere is crushed by falling masonry.
The Khrone Berzekers line up an assault, supported by the plague marines, meanwhile the fresh squad of chaos marines arrives to the scene of battle, locking the bolters and seeking targets.
The Plague Marines manage to wipe out the flamer-weilding sternguard, their forms falling to the ground under the weight of fire and scorching promethium, the flames lighting the trench up.
The Khorne berserkers roar their fury as they fire their pistols and charge the combi-plasma wielding sternguard. Their many years of training pay off as they fire precise volleys of plasma and vengeance rounds into the traitors, scything down three more before they hit the squad.
“THE SERGEANT IS MINE!
HIS SKULL IS MINE! BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD!”
The Sternguard sergeant accepts, and the two engage in a life or death struggle, as the khorne berzerkers kill two sternguard, losing none in return. The Segeant draws a sharp combat knife and his bolt pistol as they fight, ending with a chainaxe lodged in the sergeant’s chest, and a combat knife lodged in the Berzeker’s neck up to the hilt. Both fall over, quite dead. Meanwhile his men decide to withdraw, and fall back to friendly forces.
Current Score 2-1 Claws
“Strategic position secured Captain” Chimes Sergeant Picius on the far end of the trench.
“Very well, we must rout the enemy here, or our brothers have died for naught! Forward!”
They then turn around as a whole tactical squad rushes past them. Behind the Khorne Berzerkers, the Captain and apothecary rush past, heading for the Chaos marines, they are joined by the rallying sternguard.
The sternguard rapid fire vengeance rounds into the chaos marines, realizing their window for victory is coming to a close they manage to kill both the flamer wielding marines with the help of the command squad.
The tactical marines corner the Khorne Berzerkers and rapid fire, and spray them down with promethium, leaving nothing but ruined armor bits where the warriors once stood.
The Captain charges at the Chaos Marines, holding a key defense matrix console, their overwatch splashing across his form harmlessly given their surprise at the brash assault.
“I will eviscerate you dog!” Yells their Aspiring Champion
“Captain, let me handle this, carve a path to the console! The mission must come before glory!” The Apothecary and Aspiring Champion join blades, as the Captain pulverizes 5 Chaos marines in a swirling frenzy of destruction. The Veterans of Chaos cannot hope to match his fury. However, Apothecary Karios howls in agony, catching a power sword in the gut, falling to the ground beaten, he slips into a coma without another word.
Current Score 2-1 Lances
Turn 5
The Plague Marines open fire on the tactical squad with flamers and bolters, cutting down 3 of the men, as the melee continues.
“Karios! NO!” The captain redoubles his efforts as the Sternguard join the fray, cutting down the remaining Chaos marines. They however, claim another sternguard as a price of blood. The last remaining Sterguard consolidates onto the objective.
Down the hallway runs a combat squad of Sergeant Picius’ tactical marines to help hold the objective.
The Captain charges at the plague marines, along with the tactical squad surviving the ravages of nurgle. Their flamer and bolters are largely ignored, however their power weapon, along with the Captain’s hammer, take a toll on the bloated champions of pestilence. However, one of the marines, deceptively fast, lands a blow with his plague knife, sinking it into the captain’s flesh.
“DEATH….CLAIMS….ALL!”
“Your god will have to wait a lot longer for ME if you keep striking like that Pestilent one!”
Turn 6
The Melee Grinds on, loyalist verus traitor, however the traitors are boxed in and losing ground, their ability to not feel pain their saving grace.
Marines Secure various strategic points throughout the trenches as the walls grow slick with blood and fetid armor fragments, as the last plague marine is brought low.
The Captain holds his hammer high, and his men do the same with their weapons, cheering.
“For the Emperor! For Terra! For Glory! Victory is ours!”
“Commander Triton, you may call off the bombardment, the day is won, and your men should find it easier to advance into the city.”
“Many thanks my lord, glad to not be bogged down any longer! Here that boys! Saddle up! Its time to wipe the resistance out!”
Over vox, Xiphos could hear the cheers of the guardsmen.
“We’ll remain on station lest we encounter any more unpleasant surprises. Xiphos out”
The surviving marines were tending to the dead and wounded littering the battlefield, as Xiphos knelt down to pray, his head held low. The day was won, but the enemies of the Emperor were many, devious and destined for failure. He resolved himself once again to this end, striding off to contribute where he could in assisting his men.
10000 pts
4000 pts
