Lone Wolf Sentinel Pilot
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I'll sadly admit that I did not get any pictures from this battle, as it was a quick pick up game. If I had known it would turn into such a pitched battle I would have taken better record of everything.
Dark Angels:
Two tactical squads, 6 men strong, each squad bringing a skilled missile veteran (both given master crafted missile launchers)
Tyranids:
Venomthrope, 3 warriors; one with deathspitter, lashwhip and bonesword; one with deathspitter and rending claws; one with venom cannon and rending claws
Due to recent tyranid incursions in the area, the Dark Angels had been setting up defensive lines over the past few days where they expected to see the heaviest of fighting. A battle a few miles from our present location was looking bad for our brave Dark Angels... caught unaware, behind the front lines a flying hive tyrant had just attacked a key weapons depot, devastating the defenders, and all nearby forces were being called back to assist. Our story follows the actions of two squads from a nearby forward base, armed with heavy weapons that would be of use against the dreaded tyrant. However, they met heavy resistance en route, suffering casualties, losing both of their rhinos, and losing valuable time.
At this point in time the squads were down to 6 men apiece. Their rhinos destroyed, they set out on foot, their only goal to deliver their two veteran missile members into range of the tyrant. Nearly there, they were suddenly cut off by a tyranid scouting party. Luckily, the dark angels caught them off guard; they opened fire with everything, immediately bringing down what appeared to be the leader of the group since it had the deadliest of weaponry. The tyranids quickly ran for cover from this fusillade, setting up in a nearby bombed out ruin and returning fire.
The battle seemed to be a standstill, but our marines gradually realized that standing here and shooting would get them nowhere. They had to help slay this tyrant! Gradually they advanced on the enemy, but gradually too did they start losing men. While astartes physiology is unimaginable, and their armor near impenetrable, these beasts wielded deadly biological weapons that did decent work against them. Four of the marines had fallen before the gap was even half closed, and they had only managed to wound the remainging beasts.
After what seemed like an eternity of running across open ground, the marines working their way closer to the objective, the tyranids decided that they were tired of this standoff. Jumping from the ruins, they sallied forward with plans of shredding, tearing, rending and killing. Two marines fell, barely laying a scratch on them. At this point the squads realized that even though they'd be able to kill the remaining tyranids, they didn't have the time to waste. Half of them, and one of the missile veterans, broke off and raced past the tyranids, only escaping due to the suppressing fire of those that remained behind. A poor 2 marines and one of the veterans was all that remained to finish off this scouting party.
A missile caught one of the warriors and immediately vaporized it, gore raining on those around it. Bolter fire rippled through the air as the last warrior and the venomthrope charged them, but it wasn't enough to bring them down before they were locked in close combat. The two remaining marines fell, torn to pieces by this beasts rending claws, but in his dying breaths one of the marines brought down the mighty warrior.
Here we are then, a marine and his missile launcher staring down a venomthrope. He fired a round at it, but was startled at his inability to hit it. This damnable cloud of gases around it blocked his view to it, and his missiles harmlessly drifted past.
Only too late did he realize his mistake. He had paid no attention to how close it had gotten, since he had assumed he would bring it down with his first shot. Now the thing was nearly upon him, and he was frantically loading his missile launcher to get off one last shot before it engaged him.
A pull of the trigger and the roar of a missile... a hit! But how... how could it survive a hit from a krak missile! What foul warp taint was upon this beast that it could take such damage and yet live! Sadly, these were his last thoughts as the beast hit him. Before he could even react the poisons dripping from its tendrils brought him to his knees.
He had fallen. This was his end, and to such a puny creature. His last hope is that his fellow squad, his fellow Dark Angels, his fellow brothers, would be able to slay the tyrant without him. Perhaps the squad he had helped get past this scouting party would be the ones to kill it? Perhaps he had played some pivotal role in its demise? These were his last thoughts. For the emperor!
Yes, a great battle indeed! Something that started as just a casual pick up game with a friend turned into one of the most memorable kill teams I've ever played. Yes, most of the storyline we created for it was impromptu and some of it post-battle, but whatever. Things like when the "one squad left" it was actually due to failed morale, but those are just specifics that we needn't concern ourselves over.
Also, landing a hit with a krak missile on overwatch!! We were literally shouting at the dice when that happened, I know I had master crafted but still, wowza! Then all of that ecstatic joy turned into complete agony when I rolled a 1 to wound. Closest game of kill team I've ever played, can't believe that dirty venomthrope managed to charge halfway across the battlefield without running. Just talking about it has my blood pumping faster! Why can't every game be like this?
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