Tuesday, January 23, 2018

Jornath: The Battle of Mendorus Grove

Mendorus Grove, is a vital railyard to the southeast of Fort Behras. Its strategic importance in the War for Jornath lies in the Ork Forward Operations Base built into the surrounding area. Imperial commanders have spent much of the year orchestrating vast arrays of PDF and Astra Militarum assets into position for this battle. Space Marine, Mechanicus, and Knight forces will act in support of the attack. The objective of these great efforts is to smash through the "thinnest" Ork concentration within the forces encircling the Fortress. Resupplying the forces within Behras and securing the Nuclear stockpile housed beneath the mountain.

The central thrust of the assault would be focusing on the Repair Hanger and Comptoria Gantry that govern the comings and goings of freight through the facility. It is here that multiple warbosses have situated themselves to resupply and rearm after making attempts on the walls. Killing these warlords and obliterating their retinues will send a shockwave throughout the other aliens in the local area. As such the Astartes of the Sons of Medusa, the Elite Precpian Air Cavalry, and the Battle Hardened Fusiliers of the Usamiljen Cohorts have been committed to the spearpoint.








A tide of alien warriors and machines scramble through their holdings to meet the Imperial Spearhead. 



A view of the Comptoria Gantry


The Maglev Repair Hanger, overwatched by Lootas and guarded by the fearsome might of a full Ork Dred Mob




Fortunately for Jornath, a Knight of the Mechanicus strides to war in their defense. A violent foil to the Ork walkers.


WAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGHHHHHH!!
Here we see a truly disgusting amount of unwashed alien barbarians eager and willing to massacre the noble defenders of Jornath.



**We actually had reserves too. Because you can never EVER have to many Boyz**



The men of Usamiljen shall not be found wanting on this day. The crack of hundreds of lasguns and the booming report of autocannons act as proof of their steadfast determination to scour the Ork from their world.


As the Usamiljen Fusiliers close ranks and advance into their objective, the Cargo Yard. The first of the alien mobs begin their headlong charge into the jumble of containers, ramshackle gantries and barricades. 


The Fusiliers, one of the most battle-tested combat units in the Eastern Usamiljen Conflict
Sector prove their mettle by laying down a torrent of las-fire into the aliens. The specialist motorized soldiers of the Grenadiers take full advantage of this cover by blitzing forward in hardened transports to assume positions within the cargo yard.


Around the Comptoria Gantry, the forces of the Precpian Air Cavalry form up along the highway and set up a brutal killzone, as Ork motorized assets thunder towards their position.


The Precpian elite's soar into the combat zone, the Valkyries rocket pods and heavy bolters working hard to clear a landing zone amoungst the tide of greenskin warriors.


The Emperor's Finest,  the Space Marines of the Sons of Medusa and an Imperial Knight form the unyielding core to the Imperial assault force.


End of the first Imperial turn


A close up of the Usamiljen Fusiliers' Company Command squad. The cohort commanders putting on a stern face to inspire the younger soldiers. 


In a surgical strike, Precpeian commandos annihilate the battlewagon of one of the leading Ork warbosses, and set their multi-melta's upon his retinue. 



End of the Ork 1st turn movments on the cargo yard side of the field.


Adapting to the changing battle conditions the Astartes take firing positions around the Repair Hanger


The roaring engines of Valkyrie's above the complex's administrative buildings announce the shift in the tide of the battle, in favor of the Imperium.



Ork troops in the Comptoria Gantry swarm forward, in an attempt to dislodge the Precpians from their firing positions to mixed effect. The initial strike team by the smoldering remains of the Warboss's vehicle were swiftly surrounded and hacked to pieces. On the mainstreet, nearly a hundred Orks attempted to charge the vehicle convoy containing the bulk of the Precpian ground forces but were swiftly annihilated by massed heavy bolter and autocannon fire.



The lumbering might of the Ork Dred mob sends a hail of ordinance across the field, The Morkanaught paying special attention to the Imperial's Knight



In a flare of psyhic energy a unit of Ork warriors blinks into and out of existence, appearing amidst the ranks of the Fusiliers.  The aliens swiftly hack the men to pieces, but are soon met on all sides with pitiless rifle fire. The momentary distraction allows more of their kin to surge forward into the Cargo Yard.



fighting escalates amongst the admin block and around the gantry, as the aliens there finally get to grips with the Precpians.


Responding to the surging Orks, the Imperial convoy pulls back from the intersection, preferring to make full use of their heavy weaponry. 


The Fusiliers react to their unwelcome guests


A view of the combat within the Cargo yard, the Imperium has secured much of the ground early. But large portions of the Ork Warband still has yet to fully commit, leaving doubt as to the longevity of Imperial control.





Precpians dismount from the vehicle convoy to add more small arms to the fight, as the Ork's grow ever nearer. In conjunction with the Knight and Astartes the greenskins face down a truly enormous concentration of firepower. 




The Orks in the cargo yard, attempt to move forward, but are stymied by the sudden arrival of Astartes reserves in the form of Cataphractii terminators and Inteceptor assault infantry, both of whom strike from the skies to lend their expertise to the fighting.


It seems that the Ork magic was interfering more than a little with the fates.



The heat of the battle had subsided somewhat, much of the alien warhost had been cut down under the immensity of the Imperial crossfire. But those greenskins that did still remain were tenacious and not nearly ready to give up a fight of such magnitude just yet.


Ork Kommando's appeared from hiding behind the parked Precpian vehicle column, catching a few of the special forces men off guard. Were it not for the intervention of the Astartes, the damage may well have been far more severe. 




Imperial heavy assets begin to roll the front forward, eliminating the last vestiges of Ork resistance


The Orks make their final bid for the Comptoria Gantry, a sizable group of Nobz leap from their transports to charge the dismounted Precpians. The brutes do not make it far, between the vehicles, the commandos, the knight and Astartes, few make it further than a few steps. 


Pushing through the immense gunfire, the Orks at the Cargo yard swarm forward, hoping to break the momentum of the Imperial attack


A pair of Deff Dred's decimate the newly arrived Cataphractii veterans with a hail of heavy weapons fire. 


They are met with the vengeful rage of The Ancient Castellax. The redemptor dreadnaugt's onslaught cannons rip the chassis of the Deff Dreds to pieces, sending them to the ground in a blaze of acrid smoke and molten metal.


The Orks in the Cargo Yard still struggle to find any sort of purchase within the area. The Fusiliers holding their ground defiantly.


With the number of losses well in excess of five hundred, and with the burning remains of dozens of their vehicles the remainder of the Ork warhost opts to withdraw. 


The Imperial forces sally forth from their firing positions to see the aliens off with fire and sword. 


Mendorus Grove is a Major Imperial Victory.

Thanks to the success of the Offensive Imperial forces were able to puncture the Ork encirclement of Fort Behras. While the fortress is still under significant pressure from the North and the West,  it is now open to resupply once more. From here Imperial commanders will launch into the second stage of Operation Gray Jewel. An attempt to break the spirit of the Ork assaults coming from these approaches and beat them into the Ctre Valley Agricultural complex where they will be far enough from vital infrastructure to hit with orbital weaponry. 



Monday, January 1, 2018

Jornath: Operation Gray Jewel

With the year drawing to a close, Imperial commanders were eager for a shift in the tide. Operation Gray Jewel hopefully represented the beginning of that shift. Combining huge numbers of Imperial Guard assets, the Mechanicus and the Astartes, the sole purpose of the operation would be to smash open the Ork encirclement of Fort Behras, and roll through the concentrations of aliens there driving onward into the northern mountains once more, stranding orks between the heart of the counter-attacks avenue of advance, and the eastern coast. 

Tactical Brief

Mendorus Grove is one of three railyards sitting in the area of influence under H-906 (Fort. Behras)  These railyards provide logistical depots to the fortress as well as acting as servicing stations for commercial transportation from central Kula into the mountains. Mendorus Grove primarily works as a repair facility for industrial trains carrying material to and from Usamljen Heights.  It is spread over several kilometers of open ground and it is for this openness that Tactica Command has chosen this position for our breakthrough. The northern avenues to the Fortress through the Ctre Valley have been rendered inaccessible to our vehicles from heavy bombardment, as well the majority of the Ork presence has encamped there. The east, with Saine Yeltsville and the suburban areas, collapsed two months ago under severe Xenos pressure, leaving the only viable avenue there for armored counter assault firmly in opposition control.

Therefore the flat ground, around the railyard has been chosen to maximize the capabilities of our armored vehicles and allow Infantry units to make full use of range to neutralize the Orks before they can close to close quarters. The primary objective of the attack will be the seizure of an Ork forward operating base built into the repair yards of the 3rd transit hub.  It is likely that the local tribal leaders are positioned here, alongside a bulk of ammunition and xenos heavy equipment.

The offensive will be preceded by scheduled artillery fire from Fort Behras onto positions to the south of the ork FOB to aid Pioneer units in clearing minefields in preparation for 1st wave assets.


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Game Overview

5000 points per side.
1 “Superheavy Class or Gargantuan” option per side.




Deployment will be 12’’ off from Long Table Edges

Each team is allowed 15 minutes for planning and 15 minutes for deployment. Any units not deployed within the allotted time period are to be placed into reserve. Deployment will be in the pre-8th edition style, with Imperial forces deploying first.  First turn will be decided by roll-off.

The board will have 3 territorial objectives placed evenly across the middle of the table in No Man’s Land that will allot victory points on turn 3 and on turn 6 to the side that has more Wounds, inside or within 3’’ of these objectives.

Maglev Repair Hanger - This repair hanger has been retrofitted by the greenskins into a Mek Workshop of terrifying proportion, the position is heavily fortified, and bolstered. Much of the facilities repair machinery is located in its underground substructure.  This is a Vital Objective, worth 4 VP on turn 3 and 6VP on turn 6.

Cargo Yard- The material storage area for cargo going out from the railyard, and for spare parts used by the repair hangers. This objective is worth 2 VP on turn 3 and  3 VP on turn 6.

Comptoria Gantry- The control tower for the railway, this facility guides the function of the whole of Mendorus Grove while it’s complicated auspices, sensory arrays and servo-slaves are of little interest to the Orks. The destruction of the massive glyphs and WAAAGGH banners adorning the Gantry would likely heavily demoralize Ork warbands battling in the pathway of the Offensive. This objective is worth 2 VP on turn 3 and 3 VP on turn 6.

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Imperial Stratagems

Strategic Reserve (2CP)- When a unit of Imperial Guard Infantry you control is completely destroyed. You may expend this stratagem, to bring a fresh unit with identical upgrades to that unit’s starting profile onto the field on your next movement phase as though from Reserve.

Mobile Bastions (2CP)- When an Infantry unit would become the target of attacks from ranged weaponry, if that unit has a model within 3’’ of any Imperial vehicle, then it may instead differ those attacks to that vehicle instead.

Death from the Skies (3CP)- During your shooting phase you may select 3 enemy units within line of sight of any platoon or company commanders. Roll a D3, the result will be the unit selected to receive an attack following this profile  ( 1xD6 - Strength: 7  AP: -1   Damage: 1)

Angels of War (2CP)- When an Imperial Guard unit would fail a battleshock test, if the unit is within 9’’ of a unit with keyword <Space Marine> then the test, will instead pass successfully. If an Imperial Guard unit chose to fallback from combat, but are within 9’’ of a Space Marine unit they may act as normal this turn, rather than suffering the penalties for withdraw

Surgical Operators (3CP)- If a unit with keywords <Space Marine> or <Tempestus Scion>  are within the Maglev Repair Hanger, you may expend this stratagem. The unit chosen will not suffer the penalties for moving and shooting with a heavy weapon, advancing and shooting with an assault weapon, and may choose to fire twice with rapid fire weapons on this turn, at targets also within the Maglev Repair Hanger.










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   ORK Stratagems


Get Lootin’ Ladz! ( 3CP): If a unit of infantry is in close combat with a vehicle that has less than 3  wounds remaining, they may attempt to seize control of the vehicle themselves. If the orks deal more wounds to the vehicle that are dealt to their own unit (this includes wounds dealt by other units in the same combat) then the infantry unit will remove 3 models from its number and the opposing vehicle will be under the control of that units’ player until it is destroyed. The vehicle will be restored to D3+2 wounds.

Kunninly Brootal ( 3CP): Select an armored container, Ork trukk, Warbuggy, Wartrakk or a similarly sized piece of battlefield terrain, All units within 6’’ of this terrain piece or vehicle suffer D6 Strength 7, AP -1, Damage 1 hits.  Remove the terrain piece or unit from play for the rest of this game.

Da Roost (2 CP):  After deployment but before first turn, you may expend the CP for this stratagem and place a unit of Stormboyz, Lootas or Flash Gits on the Comptoria Gantry.

Mob Up Yer Runts! (2CP) : If a unit of Ork Boyz or Gretchin you control is completely destroyed. You may expend this stratagem, and place a new unit of the same type onto the board from your deployment zone at the beginning of your next movement phase, with 4xD6 members, and either 1 Nob or 1 Runtherder depending on unit type.

Propa WAAAGGH!!! (2CP): Used on a unit that you control who possess the “Waaggh” special rule in its profile. For the duration of this turn the range of that power will double to 12’’ and will effect units from allied player’s armies as well as your own.






Theme Set Stories
Put out one a day in preparation for the Apocalypse game

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The weather had turned cool finally. The soft winds of early autumn rolled across the lush green hills in Northern Kula's wine country. Cohort Praefector Hildegras breathed in deeply, from the pulpit of his Leman Russ, and thought back to his days as a stripling lad chasing girls and causing a ruckus in the local alehouses. The warm glow of the sun on his face giving the perfect compliment to the breezes nip. It let him forget... to push the distant chattering of stubbers through the filter of his own nostalgia until they were festival firecrackers or Clatterbirds. To equate the bustle of the gathering might of the Imperium's armies around him to just market noise. To forget the dread of his own likely demise looming over those hills for just a little while longer...





Sergeant Aeneas sat onto the hard cot within the spartan drop-barracks that represented his squad's operations center on this planet. A throng of chapter serfs shuffling around him with a veritable library of data slates showing ammunition counts, intelligence on Ork troop movements around the squad's target area and other vital operations information. It was one of the few things that brought him enjoyment in his life. It let him focus on tasks, exert his mind without risking the lives of others. Major operations were particularly enjoyable. Especially against a foe like the Orks, an infestation of the greenskins was good to take the mind of the worsening galactic situation. He almost envied the defense force soldiers outside, they would spend their short lives only knowing the ork, able to focus on this conventional barbaric horde while elsewhere unspeakable nightmares waited to devour mankind. He pushed such gloom aside as a serf handed him Astra Militarum figures for zone 6, and he set his mind back into a happy focus.


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Fusilier Vano bumped up and down in the back of the Helstannon troop carrier. The old coastal roads down from the mountains were far from ideal, but the greenskins held the paved ones since the Necs Pledge Cohort routed two months ago. The journey was filled with mixed emotions for the cohort, some of his comrades were jovial for a change in scenery. The mud-slicked depot that had been their home for the past few months was a cratered ruin, littered with the bodies of aliens and friends. But others sat in sullen silence or rocked with nervous ticks, anticipating the coming mighty offensive. Vano took out his cohort primer, hoping to take his mind off things. Just as he opened the booklet to a section on proper footwear maintenance, a deafening crack echoed out across the convoy. He dropped the book, startled by the sudden noise, which was soon followed by another and another.

"UP DAMN YOU! GET YER GUNS UP YA SKAGS!" Screamed Master Fusilier Chebzch from a few vehicles over.

Vano's heart started beating frantically. scrabbling around in a pile of equipment on the flatbed to get his lasgun. He grabbed ahold of the weapon, only for it to be knocked out of his hands by the body of Fusilier Cyril slamming against him. He tumbled to the bed of the vehicle, the rattle of Ork weapons and snap-pop of the cohorts lasguns roaring around him. A hand grasped him by the collar and yanked him off the back of the flatbed, onto the stony ground.

"Shoot the Orks you coward!" yelled a Sergeant he did not recognize from above him.

Pulling himself to his feet Vano scrabbled across the road looking for any kind of protection. Finding an autopistol on the ground he turned towards the sound of the shooting. Peering out from behind the helstannon, he could see a half dozen Gretchin withdrawing back into the coastal marshes, firing autoguns wildly back towards the convoy. The bellow of their Ork minders carried from further off into the tall reeds and scrub.The firing had not even subsided before the call came down the line from the Master Fusilier.

"Right! Mount Up, we've got to win the bloody war and get these crates the army lads. Pick up the wounded and treat 'em in the carriers. MOVE!"

Vano returned to the back of the flatbed and hauled himself up. He turned to help up some injured, laying them as carefully as possible around the scattered equipment and Cyril's body. He sat back down roughly into his seat, numb to the world.

The convoy kicked back into motion, ork rounds still smashing against the vehicles as they bucked down the roads into central Kula


Click Here to read more about the Fusiliers




The Valkyrie bucked from turbulence as the aircraft crossed over the coastline of Kula province. Samn leaned over a little to look out at the landscape coming into view he'd seen Kula from the air plenty of times through training drops and a handful of raids, but there was something impulsive about the act of looking that he chose to consistently indulge. He turned his attention back to cleaning his hellgun as another gunship in the formations blocked the view out the door gunners nest.

In a few hours time, the Valkyrie was touching down amidst a vast field of prefabricated shelters, armored vehicles of every shape and size. Samn polished off the cohort badge of his beret, donning the hat and getting to his feet.

"Sergeant, order the formation to parade ready deployment, would you," he spoke over his shoulder thumbing the rune of opening on the Valkyries assault ramp. The heavy slab of adamantine dropped almost noiselessly to the soft grass below. beyond the end of the ramp across a few meters of open ground denoting the landing area stood a fierce taciturn looking off-worlder in the accouterments of a lord commissar. Samn put on his best diplomatic smile and made sure to put a swagger in his step on approach to demonstrate his confidence and status as a cohort commander.

"Lord Commissar Gralin "Gladius" It is auspiciously met. I am Samn, son of Crocren of the Isle of Precpia, leader of the Royal Guard of that Islands most noble and hon..."

"Shut the hell up! You Jornathii and your introductions, I swear to him on earth. I have three questions commander you will answer them with brevity. growled the Lord Commissar.

"W..W...well very well then..." stammered Samn, very much deflated and not a little bit angered at having been spoken to in such a manner in front of his cohort.

"Do Sub-sector logistical figures of your cohorts strength and armament match the truth." spoke the Lord Commissar, with the same menacing growl from before.

"It does my lord, 9,000 Souls. Grenadiers. Specialist Airborne Assault Infantry according to standard specifications."

"How many engagements have your forces participated in?"

"2 Raids my lord. One on Valeri Pesh, the other a Manor house to rescue a nobleman's family."

The lord commissar seemed puzzled at this but spoke nothing in direct reply to it.

"Does your cohort have outstanding social, economic or political grievances with any unit currently serving under the 1st Army Group?"

"No my lord we are Precpian, not Manfredi"

A look of mild exasperation this time.

"It is the decision of the command staff of this army group that your cohort shall be broken into three divisions to hit key locations in the operations area. Your men will have the immense honor of securing tier 1 objectives alongside the emperors avenging angels. Fail in this and I swear to you now I will personally execute you for embarrassing this army." Said the Lord Commissar with poison behind every word.

With the meeting done the Lord Commissar turned and stormed off into the heart of the camp. The certainly don't call him the Mordian bulldog for no reason he thought to himself. He stood an absolute stew of emotions, if he was successful here he might go down in sector history as a hero, and to battle alongside Astartes, was an honor he had never hoped to attain in his professional life. But there was also so much at stake...

He turned around to his cohort.

"COMPANY COMMANDERS TO ME!" he bellowed