The Vitritian Interregnum: Game 2

The air was still aboard the precisely climate-controlled bridge of the Ark Mechanicus' Belator Aux Om, the thrumming modulation of hundreds of cogitators reverberating with the slow and steady heartbeat rhythm of the ships' warp reactor. It was a type of hymn to the crew, a sort of sarkic subliminal mantra which, by rights of its source produced the most pristine serenity of thought, which the host of cybernetic transhumans that lived, worked and died in service aboard this ship felt was a loadstone for the successful completion of their duties. Though for one member of this congregation of metal men, the calming aspect of the ship's mechanisms was proving insufficient to quell an all too human feeling of trepidation and anger.  The error-abort code screeched out into the stillness of the chamber, and Drahlikar Thrume Prime Hermeticon of Metallica Exploration Mandate MT045-371 turned from his ministrations at the data lathe and moved on multiple sets of metal limbs over to the communications cradle, and bending forwards to draw his sculpted inhuman face closer to the cogitator screens collating streams of incoming Skitarii Communications from the planet's surface. Submerging his consciousness into the data, Thrume quickly found the source of the Error-Abort,  Techpriest Jeremiah Azule, working in the shattered Prime Fabrication complex to dredge the ruined mainframe stacks there for any hint of their prizes location. Going into the backup archives of Azule's Digital Hippocampus, Thrume discovered the tiny hint of useful location data his forces discovered, and carefully picked apart biometric information about his Skitarii, analyzing registered trauma, adrenal response and damage telemetry, all collated by Azule in the lead up to the Error-Abort. 

"Locals?" mused Thrume, the feudalistic societies of degenerate mutants, descended of the planets few thousand survivors were rather hostile, but hardly a threat to the faithful of the machine-god. He dug further, finally accessing the squad level communications, and a shot of fear struck him as he saw that hateful word suspended in noosphereic information.

"ASTARTES"

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Its game 2 of our slow growth Mechanicus versus Chaos Marines campaign. We have kept the forces the same from game 1, and we opted to use a newly purchased neoprene gaming mat to explore the Dead Lands outside the primary fabrication complex. Riddled with pipelines, storage containers and hardened bunkers, its sure to be a delightful environment to fight in. 

 

This time around we rolled "The Relic" mission from the main rulebook, with diagonally opposed deployment zones.  A fairly straight forward mission, the relic features a single objective placed in the center of the table, that can be picked up and moved by whichever side is in control of it. The winner is the side in control of this relic by the end of the game. 

Centurions of Innocence. [500pts]

Daemon Prince [Dark Mechanicum Bio Assault Drone]  with Wings, Warp Bolter, and Talisman of Burning Blood.

Chaos Lord with Black Axe of Ul'Occa,

2x Khorne Berzerker Squads,  Champion with Power Fist and Plasma Pistol,  Marine with Plasma Pistol, and an Icon of Wrath for each squad.

10x Cultists.

Adeptus Mechanicus Skitarii of Metallica Forge World [500pts]

Techpriest Engineseer

Techpriest Manipulus (represented by an Infiltrator Alpha figure)

Sicarian Infiltrators 

3x Skitarii Vanguard Squads

Sydonian Dragoons Squadron.

The Centurions deploy amidst the pipeworks, with the characters in cover and the formation led by Khorne Berzerkers.

The Mechanicus, deployed with the vanguard staggered to spread their de-buffing capabilities liberally across the lines, with the Infiltrators bringing up the center, and the Dragoons placed far enough away to dissuade the Daemon Prince from delivering a blow against them before they've gotten a chance to get stuck-in.

Of course, I only realized the bait after I was on the hook, with the Prince smashing into the Infiltrators and killing the squad, only to be himself crippled by the fearsome counter-assault of the Dragoons.

The rest of the Centurions move up the center.

The proud Skitarii of Metallica, consolidate ready to receive the Khornate charge 

With the air rippling with rad-waves, and tormented by the roar of chainswords the battle lines crashed together

But sadly for the scions of the Machine God, the fight twice rules for Berzerkers are ruthless in close combat.

The Cultists secure the Relic as the rest of the Centurions force charges into the Dragoons

As the dust settles, the last Dragoons falls to the blades of the Chaos Lord and the Berzerkers, leaving the game a victory for the forces of Chaos. 

-Your Favorite Madman-

Jornath: The Summer Invasion Overview

Introduction:

Following the regrouping of Imperial Guard units after the failure of Operation Remits Maw, Tactica Command Jornath has struggled to construct a new strategy for combating the Orks.  While Dreadmare Companions,  Blood Angels, and White Scars along with Imperial Guard Special Forces, were able to save many units, and preserve a fighting force in the North, the Jornathi PDF commanders felt that their forces were being used improperly, questioning the efforts of both Supreme Armsmaster Vazinas and the Advisory Battalions from the Ultramar Defense Force, who in turn were being issued directives from the numerous prominent Astartes chapters.

While Imperial High Command struggled with internal power politics; The men and women on the ground in the northern reaches,  from Guffmans Platz to Usamiljin reported a sudden lull in Blood Axe raids on the defensive line, unfortunately the lapse went mostly unchecked, so it was a complete surprise to many in Tactica Command,  when an enormous Ork counter attack poured down from the mountains in the early morning hours to lay siege to Fort Behras (commonly referred to by its munitorum designation H-906) and the many Firebases within the Northern Defensive Line.

In order to hold the line,  forces are withdrawn from the Kula battlezone and shipped north, the veteran troopers proving vital in holding key positions. Of course, with the troop movements, the Orks within Kula, under the leadership of the brutal Deffaxez warband sensed their chance to breakout from the Rokk Crash Site.   In an unexpected turn of fate, the Orks launch a massive flotilla of scrap barges towards Nizajan Island, and out across the eastern coastline.  While Imperial Navy assets would obliterate much of the flotilla long before it washed ashore, in several quaint seaside villages,  mobs of savage aliens would crash into the craggy coastline,  swarming over poorly equipped mustermen to establish ramshackle ‘Orky Forts’  in the smouldering ruins.   

The Armies of the Imperium were facing a truly disastrous Ork breakout all across the continent. It would take all the courage and firepower of the Astra Militarum, and precise glorious strikes by the many Astartes to stymie the Greenskins, yet again.

Jornath: A Jarl's Defiance and Other Tales

Col. Reynolds 2nd Jornathi Advisory Battalion. Report of Actions.

Under guidance of The Mortifactors Command staff, as well as suggestions from Tactica Command Ultramar.

Guffmans Platz Army Group has begun Operation: Remits Maw. The operation would be spearheaded by Jarl Mondrix, freshly out of hospital, and newly awarded the Crux Dominus Centurion. The Operation would be targeting the largest concentration of Orks in the Ctre Valley, north of the Firebase position.

While initial engagements went well, the nature of the terrain and the tendency for the Blood Axe Clan of Orks towards ambush has meant that resupplying forward units has become difficult and large sections of the task force are being surrounded and cut off from reinforcement.

Mondrix's force is currently pinned down and surrounded by the Xenos, and while they have slaughtered all the aliens that have assailed their location, they have taken multiple losses, and their supplies run low. Their situation is relatively indicative of most units involved in the operation,

While it would be suitable for us to allow the Orks to waste themselves on our guns, The heavy fighting is attracting massive migrations of Ork Warriors southwards from their crash site.

I will send a mission dockett soon with taskings for any local Imperial forces, that will allow us to have an easier time effecting a breakout.

+++END TRANSMISSION+++

Outcome: While the battle escalated quickly, and Orks got very close many times to overrunning the Guard units, the Xenos were foruntately repulsed as they approached,  despite losing both Sentinels, and dozens of men, the heavy weapons and officers of the Company, especially Jarl Mondix, proved essential to victory. allowing for the unit to successfully withdraw south.  

Captian Tömörbaatar, 2nd Company initial report of the situation on Jornath.

Reports of the Blood Axes attacking a nearby power generator grid had me leading a small dispatch to investigate and engage is necessary. Only myself returned unharmed. The aggression of Orks here is escalating, reinforcements are greatly needed.

Outcome: A battle I did not personally participate in, but one in which no other Jornath bloggers were present, that happened around the same time as the above engagement.  This saw a tactical squad and captain from the White Scars 2nd company, tangling with Blood Axes in a combat patrol situation, as part of the actions to draw off Orks swarming the Imperial troops in the Ctre Valley.   The marines were beaten down heavily. and forced to withdraw.

Lastly, we have an engagement that IS document on another Jornathi Bloggers site, so i'll drop you a few pictures, and a link. All these engagements occurred late may, early June of last year.

Sons of Taurus: Jornath: Road Rage

15mm Imperial Fist Tac. Marine

Hey all, the Orion Heavy Infantry from Blue Moon arrived the other week, along with some necessary Westarc minis.   I've tried my hardest to replicate a space marine in this scale, let me know your thoughts,  i plan on bulking up his legs.  I also have a platoon of British FV432's that will serve as Razorbacks.

yesterday, i had a whole gang of guys over for a minis' day.  Owen, JD, and newcomer Kaleb,   we worked on 15mm Sci-fi,  played a small skirmish with those,  myself and JD played a 1500 point Orc v WoC battle in WFB,  and there was a lot of talking about possible manufacturers for Orks, Dark Eldar, and Tau for 15mm 40k.  Hopefully we may soon see several Ork Units WAAAAGHING across the games table.

The one on the far right was done by Chris.

Blood Angels Painting Commission.

Hey all, i thought i'd post up a pic of the test mini for a paint commission i got for generic Blood Angels. I think he turned out pretty well, since i was told to do "Tabletop Quality" this is what I've settled on.  In addition to this commission this week is the big conclusion to my "Senior Project" in high school, so I've been preoccupied getting ready for my boards presentation this Thursday.   I hope to have much, much more hobby goodness to provide to you all after that is said and done.   I plan on working on the Rouge Trader crew members and the Nurgle Bikers, as soon as I've finished with these Blood Angels.

Without further ado...

That's all for now.  Hope to get some shots of a local club's charity gamesday, thats happening on Saturday, as well as some more Blood Angels and Pilgrims Fandex stuff, with perhaps a smattering of misc. hobby junk thrown in over the course of the next couple weeks leading up to Yule, Hanukkah, Christmas etc... etc..


                                                              - Your Favorite Madman-