http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/69.page JForum - http://www.jforum.net STC (which happens to be a LR variant that I made out of a 1:35 Tamiya MK IV WWI tank )

The way I am running this, is that my friends come over (between 3 and 6 of them usually)...I have all the actual armies since they do not have any...and hand them a mission print out. I then hand them their force organizeation and give them the models and any other specific mission rules. Those include night fighting or warp compromised communications as well as the drop zone...stuff like that. As they are figuring out who is going to run which units I set up the terrain on my table and then there is a question/answer period of 5 minutes then we start

More like a D&D game almost where I am 'running' the game and they are going after objectives detailed in the orders. It was sooooo much fun! they really REALLY liked that it was the first of several connected games as well as the sense of danger and sense of objective...not just setting up armies across the table.

So, here is the first set of mission orders that were played this past weekend. It took about 6 hours of playing for them to reach and secure the STC objective and if not for a couple of really good tactical descisions (by a friend of mine who is in the Navy) they would have lost. Oh and they are going against nids...with all losses recorded so that they are not available for the next game but can be replenished every three games depending on dice rolls.

It was 5 pages printed LOL The Allerius Templarus is my own SM black templar chapter. I did my best through various sources to make sure that all the names were right and the time line was right.


Incoming Transmission…
Transmission Time 126.8.14 M42…
Kai Elhdredt, Adeptus Astronimica, Spire of Voices, Terra…
Encoding…ALPHA LEVEL…
Fabricator General, Adepetus Mechanicus…
Encoding verified…
Message Follows…

Transcript Follows…Instructions Follow…The Emperor Protects!
Vladimir


To: Vladimir Pugh, Chapter Master; Imperial Fists
From: Gastaph Hediatrix, Fabricator General; Mars

Chapter Master Vladimir Pugh, Hear the voices of the Machine Spirit and know that He who sits upon the Golden Throne Protects and communes at all times with the Mechanicum. In our commune with the Machine Spirit we did hear of a cache of the most revered technology...a Standard Template Construct was found and reported by Adeptus Astartes Captain Ulunus Sameter, Astral Claws Chapter. He was sent by My hand to ascertain the validity of this claim. Captain Ulunus contacted us via astropath stating that he had indeed found what We were searching for. However, the ending of his transmission is interpreted as indicating the eradication of his Command Squad and accompanying assets.
Message transcription follows:

We have…we believe…found the Standard Template Construct! It is beautiful Fabricator General but we are unable (screaming of orders to form up…clashes of arms…bolt gun shots are fired. A call for the Captain to complete the transmission and issue orders…more screams) Fabricator General! We are unable to operate the Standard Template Construct! (high pitched screams…more weapons fire, from bolt guns as well as bolt pistols…possibly a flamer…shouts of confusion…) We are NOT ALONE on this planet! Tactical reports of it’s demise are WRONG! The Standard Template Construct is….coordinates incoming…BEWARE Fabricator General…We are NOT alone…(message ends…coordinates received)

Chapter Master, it is of the Highest Importance that the Standard Template Construct be recovered! The Most Holy Machine Spirit is screaming out for us to recover this piece of technology for the good of the Imperium. As you know, the resources of Mars are spread much too thin in the Ultima Segmentum for Us to coordinate the retrieval operations. We call upon Your oaths to the Emperor and to the Imperium to gather what forces you feel necessary for insertion to the system and the retrieval of the Standard Template Construct.

The Machine Spirit be with you Chapter Master,
Gastaph Hediatrix
Fabricator General, Adeptus Mechanicum; Mars

Message Ends…
Transmission Ends…
Transmission Time 126.8.14 M42…

Transmission Incoming…
Transmission Time 127.10.24 M42…
Ekter Fickint, Adeptus Astronomica, Fortress Monastery Phalanx; Ultima Segmentum, Loki Sector
Encoding…ALPHA LEVEL…
Chapter Master Vladamir Pugh, Imperial Fists...
Encoding Verified…
Message Follows…

To: Helbrecht, High Marshal, Adeptus Astartes; Black Templars
From: Vladamir Pugh, Chapter Master, Adeptus Astartes; Imperial Fists

High Marshal,
Please review the preceding communication received by astropath. As you well know, I and the Fists are unable to spare even a tactical squad for this endeavor. The prosecution of the ork horde in the far east of the Ultima Segmentum has tied up all of our current resources. If I am not mistaken, You have a little less than a company in the region with supporting assets including selected Imperial Guard units that were assigned for training in tactical operation. And yes Helbrecht…I DO know about that little bit of forced change. We must evolve Helbrecht…it is part and parcel of the times we live in. As you can also see, this transmission is more than a year old, siderial. I have no information on this Standard Template Construct nor do I have any information on enemy disposition in the region.

Coordinates are encoded in this transmission…

Encoded Cooridinates…
Ultima Segmentum, Dadab Sector, Decabullus Subsector, Planet Tertic…
Encoded Portion ends…

Halbrecht, it IS important for us to assist the Mechanicum. It IS important for us to retrieve this bit of lost technology. It IS important for us to make sure that the Fabricator General has his toys to play with. See what you can do to retrieve this if you will.

The Emperor Protects!
Vladimir

Message Ends…
Transmission Ends…
Transmission Time 127.10.30 M42…

Transmission Incoming…
Transmission Time 127.11.11 M42…
Alexender Repliph, Adeptus Astronomica, Fortress Monastery Eternal Crusader; Ultima Segmentum, Chandron Sector
Encoding…ALPHA LEVEL…
High Marshal Helbrecht, Black Templars...
Encoding Verified…
Message Follows…

To: Aurelius Lokan, Captain 1st Company, Adeptus Astartes; Allerius Templarus
From: Helbrecht, High Marshal, Adeptes Astartes, Black Templars

Aurelius,
As you can see from the message above the Chapter Master needs some assistance. YES, I know that we are not under his authority, but the Fists are all off gallivanting with the orks and appear to be a bit indisposed to follow the request of the Fabricator General. Not that I am fully convinced that he would heed a year old request to begin with but who am I to tell the Great and Noble Vladimir Pugh how to conduct his interests. I know that you are engaged in tactical training with certain Imperial Guard units 2 systems core ward from the location given by the Chapter Master. So, I believe that this would be an excellent opportunity for some of that ‘advanced training’ that you have been moaning about in regards to your new association with the guard. You will find encoded the latest tactica that I have of the region and system. Go see if you can find the Fabricator Generals little lost plaything Aurelius…and get those guard units in shape. I can’t have them running at the first sign of a real fight!
For Dorn and The Emperor!
Halbrecht

Encoded Transmission begins…

Coordinates: Ultima Segmentum, Dadab Sector, Decabullus Subsector, System Tertic, Planet Tertic
Tertic: Hive World
Population Est: 350,000,000,000
Capital: Hive City Verun
Tactical Assesment: Unknown
Tactical Assesment Appendix: Due to Warp Storms in early M41 the Tertic system was lost from Imperial jurisdiction. Warp Storms receded in early 100 M42. There has been no contact with that planet or its two neighbors for well over a hundred years. It is surprising that a transmission was relayed off planet as the residual warp interference all but prohibits communication via astropath. It is presumed that the population of the planet has been lost. It is possible for recovery of the planet and the region but the only eyes on target that have been relayed are those of the presumed dead Captain Ulunus Sameter.
Drop Assesment: Tactical advises that you drop just south of the main hive city of Verun. It appears that the communication from Captain Ulunus Sameter was received from the North East section of the city. However, there are no available drop zones in that section. This tactical is an assumption based on the plans for Verun that were part of the official record when the hive was established. Also be aware that residual warp interference will affect not only the accuracy of your drop, but also the efficiency of communications. Newsphere operation is unknown at this time. It is the opinion of this tactical that no planet wide communication system exists. Contact with orbital assets are also not guaranteed. Squad to squad vox should be operational due to the enclosed nature of the system. All other communication is not guaranteed. No information is available about the conditions of the surface or hostile nature of flora/fauna. Hostile contact is indicated by the communication of presumed dead Captain Ulunus Sameter and accompanying assets. Composition of hostiles is as yet unconfirmed. EXTREME CAUTION IS ADVISED BY THIS TACTICAL.

Message Ends…
Transmission Ends…
Transmission Time 127.11.11 M42…

It will be a couple of weeks before we play the next battle. Got some things going on and the next stage will be a drop attack on a hive top manufactorum. I am going to make a completely raised (about 6 inches of the tabletop) battle scape for it. With landing pads and walkways...all elevated as the top of the hive manufactorum...


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