In the Shadow of Behemoth

[Shadow Lord]

Darn, good writing!!! I hope you'll be playing this battle soon? I'm really looking forward to it!

[Vampiric16]

Hey Shadow Lord! Cheers for the positive feedback, it helps Kurisu get through the day
The next battle shall be on Sunday, and is going to be a good one! I can't say too much, only that the Marines are in for a bumpy landing

[Xyon]

I liked that battle report, and the special rules for hive minding the imperial guard. I didnt check to see if your points were the same or close enough since it was a special scenario you were wanting to play anyways. But I was thinking that the 1d6 scatter may have been too good for how things ended up going, otherwise it was entertaining.

[Kurisu313]

Game 3: Angels from Above, Daemons from Below

It was the thirtieth day of the siege when the skies opened again. The clouds above Novum Askalon opened, and the Strike Cruiser ‘Striking Talon’ descended, hanging there like a steel fortress in the sky. Its hull bore many scars from forcing its way through the Tyranid cordon, and even now it didn’t have much time to remain on station.

It spoke, and great swathes of the Tyranid Swarm surrounding the capitol were obliterated in an instant. In those instants, shapes detached themselves from the great craft’s underbelly, blazing downwards on columns of fire. Cargo Transports. Air Fighters. Thunderhawks.

The Dragon Guard had arrived.

The Hive fleet closed the gap left in its cordon left by the hard meat. As predicted, they had aimed hard and fast for the weakest part of the fleet and burned through to planetside. The marines had subsequently forced the ground swarms back with fire and death to secure a landing site.
Acceptable losses.

The Hive mind reached out, and its vassals responded. A great Hive Tyrant unfurled its wings and shook its huge body like a monstrous parody of a bird. With a shriek it jumped into the sky, followed by a multitude of winged organisms. In addition, the previously dormant Trygons and Raveners awoke from slumber. As one the serpents and dragons of Behemoth surged on towards where the marines would make their landing behind the great walls. But where the marines sought a stronghold, they would find only death.

The trap was sprung.


Lieutenant Jenson commanded a small force guarding the cities’ starport. They looked up in awe as the bright red craft made their decent. They began to cheer, applause picking up steam.

The ground began to quake, but it was ignored under the roar of retro-firing jets.

What came next could not be ignored. The huge holes appeared in the ground, and waves of smaller organisms began to swarm out of the tunnels, aiming directly for the starport. Men cried out as they looked to be overrun immediately, but then the first wave died in flurry of body parts.

An enormous armoured figure appeared on the landing pad. His armour was bedecked with gold, and his arms ended in crackling lightning claws. His scarred face was incandescent with fury.

“Brothers! Death to the Alien!”

With a roar, the Dragon Guard launched their counter-attack.

Overview

Welcome to the third game in the campaign! In this game, 2000pts of Space Marines and Imperial Guard have to hold the Starport against the Tyranid tunnellers and fliers. Four tunnel entrances are placed around the board, and the Tyranid reserves come on from those. Last one standing wins!

Dragon Guard Demi-Company

Captain Deinon – Pair of Lightning Claws
Tactical Squad Sarutobi – Power Sword, Meltagun, Heavy Bolter
Tactical Squad Janten – Power Fist, Combi-Flamer, Flamer, Multi-Melta
Tactical Squad Rhoceus – Combi-Plasma, Plasma Gun, Plasma Cannon
Assault Squad Helios – Pair of Lightning Claws, 2 Flamers
Devastator Squad Varus – Combi-Melta, 4 Missile Launchers
Stormtalon Ramphorynchus Erasii – Skyhammer Missiles

Liuetenant Jenson – Bolter, 4 Grenade Launchers
Infantry Squad 1-1 – Grenade Launcher, Missile Launcher
Infantry Squad 1-2 – Grenade Launcher, Missile Launcher
Infantry Squad 1-3 – Grenade Launcher, Missile Launcher
Infantry Squad 1-4 – Grenade Launcher, Missile Launcher
Infantry Squad 1-5 – Grenade Launcher, Missile Launcher
Mortar Team

Tyranid Invasion Swarm

Flyrant w/wings, twin-linked devourers, scything talons
20 Hormagaunts w/ toxin sacs
20 Hormagaunts w/ toxin sacs
20 Hormagaunts w/ toxin sacs
10 Genestealers + Broodlord ‘Mohawk’
10 Genestealers + Broodlord ‘The Beast’
5 Raveners w/ rending claws
20 Gargoyles
Harpy
Trygon Prime w/adrenal glands
Mawloc

Deployment


Captain Deinon and his command Squad deploy on the very centre of the Skyshield, flanked by Devastator Squad Varus in two combat squads. The remaining four Space Marine Squads guard the four pillars of the Skyshield.

The Imperial Platoon is spread evenly throughout the surrounding buildings.

Tyranid Turn 1


Wave after wave of Hormagaunts swarm up from the tunnels. On the eastern flank, they are joined by the two Genestealer Broods, and the Raveners who made their own tunnel.

The Tyrant appears in the north, sniping a missile launcher team in a hail of grubs. On the far western flank, the Trygon rears up, electrocuting three guardsmen with its containment spines. To finish the arrival, the Mawloc (who was aiming for Sarutobi) comes up beneath Squad Janten, sending three marines broken into the air.

Imperial Turn 1


The counterattack is immediate. Flamers ignite, and suddenly two broods of Hormagaunts almost fully disappear as Helios and Janten step into the fray. Chainswords revving, Assault Squad Helios does not allow the survivors to flee.

Sarutobi leads the scouring of the next, bolters dropping the first two ranks. Rhoceus knocks down a few Genestealers from Mohawk’s brood. Missiles fly from Varus’ squads, knocking three wounds from the Mawoc. The Imperial Guard do little of note.

Heedless of the danger, Deinon hurls himself from the Skyshield into the Mawloc. His faith is rewarded as none of his Squad are hurt by the fall. Unsheathing his talons, Deinon hits the Mawloc with the full force of the Emperor’s fury and takes all three of its remaining wounds by himself.

Tyranid Turn 2


The Gargoyles arrive in the very centre of the Skyshield, but even with twenty shots only fell a single devastator. The Harpy also arrives, killing a few guardsmen with its strangler.

Melees begin to erupt all around the board. Sarutobi is beset by a brood of Hormagaunts, but gives as good as he gets, and holds on. Janten, on the other hand is soon the sole survivor of his squad, facing down the Beast and his Genestealers.

Lieutenant Jenson is quickly obliterated by a damaged brood of Hormagaunts. Rhoceus’ plasma gunner wounds the Tyrant as it barges into close combat, but two of his brothers are eviscerated. They manage to break away from the beast, but only flee 2”. Meanwhile, the Raveners easily destroy a Guard squad.

Marines are sent sprawling as the Trygon butchers seven men from Helios’ Squad. The three survivors flee for their lives.

Imperial Turn 2


In a blaze of jets, the Stormtalon Ramphorynchus Erasii arrives, and takes a heavy toll on the Harpy with multiple volleys. It falls from the sky as the nearby guard squad takes its last wound. Fourteen Gargoyles die as the mortars and Devastators fire point-blank frag rounds into their midst.

Helios takes the momentum from his rout to charge into help out Sarutobi. They quickly see off the remaining Hormagunts, the last two fleeing for the Trygon’s synapse. Rhoceus fells the Hive Tyrant with plasma bolts, its great bulk crashing to the floor.

Deinon planned to help out Janten, but obviously weary from slaying the Mawloc fails to charge 4”. Janten goes down inevitably.

Tyranid Turn 3


Mohawk finally leads its brood into the Guard squad that had been pestering it, but completely fluffs its attacks. In return, disciplined bayonet drill fells two Genestealers! The Gargoyles beset Varus, and drag two marines into the sky for one of their own.

Again, Helios is attacked by the Trygon, and this time there is no escape. Hormagaunts take down the Mortar Team.

Due to his failed charge last turn, Deinon suddenly finds himself fighting both the Raveners and Genestealers at the same time. A measure of understanding flickers as he locks eyes with the Beast and they engage in a one on one duel, each failing to land a telling blow. Sergeant Jakyrus and Champion Tomias are both knocked from their feet, but otherwise I was very lucky. A single Genestealer has its skull caved in.

Imperial Turn 3


Ramphorynchus Erasii engages its retro jets and spins 180 degrees to target the Trygon. With the aid of half of the Devastators, two wounds are knocked from the monstrosity. More Hormagaunts drop to lasfire, and they flee for the Trygon. Varus sees off the last Gargoyles.

Mohawk suddenly finds his footing and easily tears through the Imperial Guard squad he was fighting. Sarutobi and Rhoceus both charge in to help out their Captain. In one of the luckiest displays I’ve seen, not a single marine falls. In return, Deinon punches a few holes in the Broodlord, all of the Genestealers are killed and a Ravener brought down. The Raveners break away at top speed, but the Beast does not get away, and Deinon lops its head from its shoulders.

Tyranid Turn 4


All of the remaining Hormagaunts (about 6) are able to see off an Infantry Squad. The rallied Raveners and Mohawk slam into Rhoceus, and the Tactical Squad disappears under a flurry of claws.

The Trygon slams into the Command Squad, and slaughters all of them, though the meltagun makes a pinpoint overwatch shot. Captain Deinon dances under its lashing tail and strikes another wound in a series of rolling uppercuts.

Imperial Turn 4


Muttering about how he has to do everything himself, Varus descends and nails a Ravenor with a pinpoint melta burst. Sarutobi then engages the remainder in an indecisive melee. The Devastators and Stormtalon finish the remaining Hormagaunts in an unfair display of firepower.

The Trygon lands four wounds on Deinon, but despite his Iron Halo, he takes three and goes down. Striking at the same Initiative, Deinon scores three hits but no wounds. The lighnting claws re-roll, and still no six! The Trygon is triumphant on one wound.

Turns 5 & 6


Over the course of the next two turns, the Trygon and Ravenors are able to kill every marine left on the board. At the last, the Stormtalon fells the Ravenors and then the Trygon, triumphantly killing Devastators atop the skyshield is charged by two Guard squads. They roll three sixes, and the last wound is done! The mighty beast falls.

Meanwhile, Mohawk had disappeared.

Result

Pyrrhic though it may be, the Imperials held the landing zone!

Space Marine Casualties
We roll a D6 for every dead marine, on a squad by squad basis. On a 1, they died permanently, but I get to choose who died. This way, Sergeants are the last to die. The Command Squad will always be made up to full. Characters have a more lenient system.

Command Squad Jakyrus: Aximili (Standard Bearer), Matthius
Tactical Squad Sarutobi: Furuk. Brother Akomander was promoted to Standard Bearer for Bravery.
Tactical Squad Janten: Hayate, Garuka
Tactical Squad Rhoceus: Laxus, Panver. Brother Gurei was promoted to Command Squad.
Assault Squad Helios: Leigh, Arya
Devastator Squad Varus: Biska, Ahnaris

Total Casualties: 11
Remaining Battle Brothers: 89

Thoughts

That was AWESOME! The action was non-stop, backwards and forwards. My favourite moment had to be Deinon leaping headlong into the Mawloc. If only he had felled the Trygon, their bodies would be in about the same place! Ah well, a Mawloc and a Broodlord isn’t a bad count. Having the Guard show the glory hogs how it was done was also pretty cool.

Well, the marines have arrived, and having already taken 10% casualties, the long haul could be problematic.

In the aftermath, the second half of the company had dropped and had begun to scour and collapse the tunnels. It wouldn’t end their threat, but subterranean assault was always a possibility when fighting Tyranids. The first half were busy pulling themselves together.

Sarutobi and Varus were having an argument about who had finished off the Raveners, when they noticed Deinon go by. He was slick with blood, and his face, before dour, was now alight with joy.

“What a reckless fool,” spat Varus. He suddenly found himself span around to be eye to eye with Sarutobi.

“Watch your mouth. He is a great hero. He singlehandedly faced down two of those monsters.” Varus pushed him away angrily.

“That’s not how I remember it. My men damaged both of those monsters. And even if they hadn’t, a leader is not judged by his skill at arms. No leader should be happy with this result. Over one fifth of his command has some kind of injury, and half of those are too serious to continue fighting.”

“Injuries happen in war, Varus,” stated Sarutobi bluntly. They were about to continue when Sergeant Rhoceus walked up, looking troubled. He was injured, but the Sergeant had a reputation for surviving worse. “What ails you brother?”

“One of my men is missing. Brother Panver. We have not been able to retrieve his body.”

Sarutobi and Varus exchanged glances. What new devilry was this? It was not like the Tyranids to take prisoners, or even corpses. Neither of them wished to find out.

[orlando davion]

Bloody battle at the club today!

Good write up.

Phyrric victory; will the marines survive many more victories like that?

[Shadow Lord]

AWESOME!!!! What a bloody entry made by the Dragon Hunters! Massive casualties on both sides, good writing and excellent pics...what more does a 40K-player wants...thx for this, it always makes my day!

[Sqallum]

Love it! I eagerly await the next battle report. I love the pictures and the fact that the models are all painted really well. Just awesome

[Kurisu313]

Political Upheaval

While the Dragon Guard made their landing, a small black shuttle instead headed towards the governor’s palace. As the ramp crashed down, black-clad Storm Troopers piled out, barking orders at bewildered palace guards. They brandished an Inquisitorial Rosette.

Inquisitor Tobias Kurz of the Ordo Xenos, clad in golden power armour descended from the shuttle, shadowed by the enormous form of Hiruzen, Chapter Champion of the Dragon Guard. They proceeded into the heart of the palace, where a multitude of PDF commanders, techpriests, astropaths and civilian servants laboured around a holographic table that served as military control on Vorax. The room went silent in an instant.

“I am Inquisitor Tobias Kurz of the Ordo Xenos. Where is Governor Maximilian Augustus?”

From the far end of the room, Augustus stood. “Welcome Inquisitor, we weren’t expecting you so soo…”

“I am going to ask you two questions Governor. How you answer them will determine your lifespan.”

“Now see here…,” blustered General Barakov.

“Why did you not send calls for help?” Asked Kurz.

“We did,” replied Augustus smoothly, recovering quickly from his shock. “As I am sure you are aware, the Tyranid scum exert a shadow that blocks psychic emission. If you couple that with the odds of hitting one specific ship in the void, it is not hard to imagine why you didn’t receive it.” His voice quailed suddenly. “Do you mean that no help is coming?”

Kurz ignored the question, and nodded as if in thought. “A plausible excuse, Govenor. Second question: did you uncover a Genestealer Cult here on Vorax?”

“A what?”

“Tyranid vanguard organisms have the ability to infect human beings, and control their actions. Did any people go missing or did any people start behaving oddly?”

“No, nothing like that at all,” stated Augustus triumphantly.

“Which means only one thing,” smiled Kurz sadly, drawing his pistol, “I name thee abomination in the Emperor’s sight. Die.” The entire room fell into silence. Augustus’ face fell with sudden terror, and Kurz’ pistol barked.

By the time the bullet reached Augustus, he was no longer there. He had sprung several metres into the air, grasping a lighting filament on the ceiling to propel himself into a crouch right in front of the Inquisitor. His right arm distended, adamantine hard claws bursting forth.

In that moment, Inquisitor Kurz knew that he was dead. He had underestimated the xenos-thing’s speed, and could not react in time to stop him.

There was a rush of movement, of something, huge, red and gold, moving so fast that even Augustus appeared to be standing still. Heartbeats passed, and his human senses were able to resolve the scene before him. Augustus was falling in two pieces, bifurcated at the waist. Hiruzen, now crouching behind the governor, sheathed his sword. The assembled congregation looked on with confused amazement.

When the Astartes had chosen to accompany Kurz in no uncertain terms, he had heard of the man’s supposedly legendary skill, and took it somewhat as hyperbole. He quickly revised that opinion.

Foul, inhuman organs spilled from the governor’s terrible wound. “No…no…father needs you,” gasped Augustus with his dying breath.

“Your ‘father’,” said Kurz to the corpse “Is an old acquaintance of mine. I’ll be sure to give him a few more scars before I’m done.” He turned to Hiruzen. “I am grateful that you accompanied me. Your prowess with the blade is not exaggerated.”

“I serve the Emperor,” replied Hiruzen enigmatically. From the point of view of the Astartes, the event had been nothing special. Well within the capabilities of any space marine, though it looked impressive to a mere human.

“Wha…what is going on?” wailed Barakov.

“Your Governor was infected, General. There is a type of Tyranid that moves ahead of the swarm, infecting the poor fools that get in their way. All Tyranid invasions will have this as a symptom. We have tests that can weed them out of your men. We must get your force pure as quickly as possible.”

“But how did you know…”

Kurz shrugged. “There is always a Genestealer Cult, general. If he hadn’t discovered any evidence, he was either a traitor or incompetent. In the end, it was no loss either way.” Barakov had a sudden flash of anger at the callous words, but wisely didn’t respond.

“The Astartes and I are here now, General. It is time to take the fight back to the Xenos!”

[Shadow Lord]

Nicely written. Can't wait to see how this will affect the following battles! Keep up the good work (and Vampiric16 as well ofc!)!!

[Vampiric16]

#Message 419
#ref Bio-unit/priority level alpha
Acquisition of artifact (11) means we can proceed with bio project #delta1099/23.
With the arrival of the Astartes and the Inquisition, both secrecy and speed are required in this most important of projects.
Phase 1 shall commence ASAP.
For the brotherhood, and the Father.
#End message

[Kurisu313]

Game 4 Pregame: Bombing Run

This is a minigame we played before the fourth game. The aim is to get three Valkyries off of the board edge, laden with explosives. There will several rules in effect, such as the Valkyries being slowed due to being overburdened, and the Harpy being fitted with Skyfire ammo. The end result is not an interesting play by play, so I’ve written it up in narrative form. I hope you enjoy!

Banshee flight howled over the ruined terrain of Vorax. The jungles were infested by horrific alien flora. They’d been sent on this mission by Inquisitor Kurz himself. They didn’t know the reason for what they were doing, but they very clearly knew what they were doing.

Each Valkyrie had been stuffed to full capacity with high-grade explosives. It was terrifying. The feeling, no matter how paranoid, that a single spark could end them in seconds. They had a target, and merciful Emperor, they wanted dearly to reach it and get rid of this load.

“Banshee Lead, incoming hostiles!” Voxed Banshee Two.

Coming in the other direction were a host of smaller Tyranid fliers, identified by the Biologis as Gargoyles. In their midst were two considerably heavier organisms, a Tyrant and a Harpy.

Bereft of their manoeuvring capability due to their load, they had little choice but two try and barge through. Multilasers spat and Gargoyles fell from the sky, burning. The wave kept coming in, and the larger Harpy opened on Banshee Lead. Powerful skyshard grubs punched through its canopy and began devouring the crew within. Banshee Lead lost its place in formation, and slowly, torturously lost altitude until it slammed into the earth, exploding with the force of several tonnes of explosive.


“Mayday! Mayday! This is Banshee Two, we desperately require assistance, is anyone able to respond?” It was pure desperation. What hope was there that there could be any help coming?

“Acknowledged, Banshee Two. Engaging.” With the force of the Emperor’s Wrath, the Stormtalon Quetzacotus Mortii entered the airspace. A heavy interdiction fighter, it’s greater manoeuvring capabilities saw it skim under the fight, rising to engage the Tyranid Harpy. With but a single salvo the great beast fell, skyhammer missiles and assault cannon shells easily tearing through its weak carapace.


Seeing the danger of this new threat, the Tyrant broke off from pursuit of the Valkyries as they were mobbed by the Gargoyles. It slammed bodily into the Stormtalon, shearing off part of its comm-array. It could not maintain its grip and leapt off. Much more agile than the Imperial craft, the Tyrant flipped in midair, hammering its hull with devourer grubs. It was more than the venerable craft could stand, and its engines gave out.

From its brave sacrifice, Banshee Two and Three made headway through the gargoyle flock as they nipped at their vulnerable areas, causing minor damage. But the Tyrant had regained on them. It fired into Banshee Three’s rear, ignoring the Gargoyles that it was killing with its own shots. At the last moment before reaching the objective Banshee Three’s load was sparked off, and the Gargoyles vaporized in a ball of fire.


Alone Banshee Two made its way clear of the Tyranid cordon.

“This is Banshee Two to base. Dropping payload now!”

[Pentregarth]

Love your writing style...this makes me want to write battle reports too ^^
Can't wait for the next installment ;-)

[Vampiric16]

Pentregarth: thanks for the feedback, we both appreciate it!
That mini-game was great, and I recommend the scenario for killing an hour or so. It would be interesting to play it again in a points based match (so two aerial forces slugging it out), but I'll need to build more harpies for that!
Out of interest, what did people think of the skyshard ammo? Basically we changed the venom cannon to be 2 shots (like the previous edition), with skyfire. 2 S9 twin-linked shots was more than adequate, nasty even, but is balanced by the low toughness and wounds of the harpy. Will be interesting to see if they do something similar with the rumoured harrier...

[Pentregarth]

I'd say it's a bit over the top, but then again IG can get Valkyries with 3 tl lascannons for 40 points less...since right now tyranids can do next to nothing against flyers, not even get a quad-gun, it's definitely fair.

[stazba]

immense epicness in writing and gaming. your story telling mixed with creative scenarios are giving my immagination is the 40K movie we all always wanted. best of all it is completely obvious you guys are having a blast. subscribed

[Kurisu313]

Game 4: Digestion Problems

The second half of the company made their attack. Thanks to the Inquisitor, each Sergeant was carrying a virus grenade. The force was nominally under the command of Chaplain Xyrix, though Librarian Nara had come along, much to his consternation.

He read from the ‘Hymns of Drakonis’, inspiring each space marine to do his duty, to abhor the alien.

In their way, aliens were pushed back by a wall of fire as Banshee flight completed their mission.

“For the Emperor!”

Overview

This game is 2000pts, and the goal is for the space marines to drop virus grenades into the five digestion pools across the board. This takes a turn of being in assault with it, and only sergeants and independent characters carry the grenades.

Due to the pregame, I get 6” of deployment for every Valkyrie I saved as we scour the alien back. That gives me a grand total of…6.

Space Marine Demi-Company

Chaplain Xyrix – Jump Pack
Librarian Nara – Epistolary, Biomancer
Terminator Squad Ryuu – Assault Cannon
Tactical Squad Radtz – Chainsword, Flamer, Missile Launcher, Rhino
Tactical Squad Dororo – Power Fist, Meltagun, Multi-Melta, Rhino
Tactical Squad Saracen – Power Sword, Plasma Pistol, Flamer, Lascannon, Rhino
Assault Squad Arus – Thunder Hammer, 2 Flamers
Devastator Squad Arakine – Chainsword, 4 Missile Launchers
Vindicator – Siege Shield
Stormtalon Gunship – Skyhammer Missiles

Tyranid Defense Swarm

Hive Tyrant w/ scything talons, devourers
2 Tyrant guard
3 Hive Guard
2 Pyrovores
Doom of Malan’tai
Tervigon w/ scything talons, catalyst
Devourergaunts
5 Warriors w/ scything talons, deathspitters, barbed strangler
5 Ripper swarms
5 Ripper swarms
Tyrannofex w/ rupture cannon, shreddershard larvae, cluster spines
2 Carnifex w/ 2xdevourers
3 Biovores

Deployment


The Tyranid Deployment looked like a wall of monstrous creatures backed up by the little creatures; a veritable linebacker formation.

With my Vindicator in the centre, and Devastators split to either end, I cram my squads into my narrow deployment zone.

Turn 1


The whole Space Marine army rumbles forward as quickly as possible. Saracen runs up to the nearest pool to begin planting the first virus grenade.

Seeing the potential danger, I only make one kill, as the Devastators nail the Doom of Malantai.

The Tyranids also advance, but their shooting fails to make any mark this turn, though a group of spore mines land near the second pool.

Space Marine Turn 2


A Rhino tank shocks the spore mines, and they all explode. Xyrix leads the Assault Marines over the second pool and into the Pyrovores. They lose a marine to the blazing overwatch, but wipe them out. Dororo occupies the pool and readies his grenade.

In the very rear, Ryuu appears with his Terminators, but causes little damage, wounding a Warrior.

Saracen unleashed his grenade, infecting the first pool.

Tyranid Turn 2


The Vindicator disappears in a mushroom cloud as the Tyrannofex fires. The nearby Rhino suffers the same fate to the Hive Guard, and the Tervigon takes advantage of Radtz’ clumped up formation and kills two as they disembark. Termagants charge them, but utterly bounce.

Two of Dororo’s squad die as spore mines rain down amongst them. The Terminators advance through a thick wall of fire to no effect.

The Tyrant engages the Assault Marines and in a dynamic melee, three astartes fall, but a Guard is crushed and the Tyrant wounded.

Space Marine Turn 3


The Stormtalon roars on, taking out two Hive Guard. Pincered from behind, the Terminators kill two more Warriors, but ~just~ fail their charge. One Carnifex shudders under multiple rocket impacts, losing three wounds.

Radtz kills all but the last Termagant, and Dororo drops the second virus grenade.

The last Tyrant Guard is killed, but only Chaplain Xyrix and Sergeant Arus remain to oppose the beast.

Tyranid Turn 3


The Devilgaunts bring down one Terminator through weight of fire. In some cataclysmic dice rolling, the remaining Terminators are wiped out between the Warrior’s shooting and assault.

Another two members of Dororo die to spore mines as the advancing Carnifexes slow briefly to kill a Rhino in a shower of armour piercing grubs.

The Tervigon tries to help her last baby out, but it dies to Radtz, who pile in around the monstrosity. The Tyrant, however, easily dispatches Xyrix and Arus.

Space Marine Turn 4


Zooming overhead, the Stormtalon brings down another two Warriors, as it struggles to find targets. A Carnifex finally falls to heavy weapons fire, and the Tyrant also suffers a wound.

Radtz and the Tervigon dance around each other with no damage being caused.

Tyranid Turn 4


The Carnifex shows that it’s not just a combat brute by killing four Devastators with its devourers. The Tyrant, too, kills two of Dororo’s Squad, who fall back under the onslaught. The Tyrannofex smashes through a Rhino like tissue paper, the ensuing explosion not so much as scratching its carapace.

Rippers charge in to help the Tervigon, and three Marines fall to the seething carpet of teeth. Distracted, they are then wiped out by the Tervigon.

Space Marine Turn 5


Librarian Nara charges the Tervigon, activating Iron Arm. Even so, he fails to land the one necessary wound to blow the fiend’s head off, is wounded, and flees the combat. *facepalm*

Saracen desperately hammers away at the approaching Carnifex, but only wounds it. Spinning in place, the Stormtalon takes out the last Hive Guard, leaving it almost untouchable.

Everything else goes in to killing the Tyrant and it falls, the front half of its head sheared away by a meltagun.

Tyranid Turn 5


The Stormtalon evades though the firepower thrown up at it. The Rippers beset Dororo, but the combat is a stalemate. The Carnifex causes 9 wounds, but all are saved, leaving the last turn rather uneventful.

Result
Two out of five pools infected.

The Tyranids Win!

Space Marine Casualties

Chaplain Xyrix is permanently wounded.
Tactical Squad Radtz: Serru, Kurra and Furizah
Tactical Squad Dororo: Kayuk
Assault Squad Arus: Bangora

Total Casualties: 5
Remaining Battle Brothers: 84

Thoughts

In the words of Jason from Fairy Tail – “Cooooooooooooooooollllll!” If you get that, I love you.

In the end, I simply couldn’t advance with Tactical Marines into that iron wall of monsters, which I always believed would be the case, but oh well.

A full sixth of my company is gone, and only two squads are full strength. Time to dig deep.

But at least we gave them mild indigestion!

As the Marines fell back through the wilderness, Nara rallied them to him, forming a strongpoint. The venerable Librarian was frustrated, having always believed the mission to be suicidal. Without a heavier air attack, they simply could not get through such numbers.

The broken, bloody form of Xyrix came into view. Nara knew that the Chaplain would never agree, and just delighted in killing any xenos. The simple minded fool.

They hurried back, fighting small skirmishes. Deinon would need to be informed.

Another link had gone dead, another Tyrant fallen. And this foreign body in the system…it had to be purged. The Hive adapted, looking for the virus’ weak point. It would win eventually. No human virus could out adapt the Hive.

But the stress on the system was great, and a new gestation pod came into being. A slow grown solution, but a necessary one. The greatest of Tyrants was being slowly reborn.

[SevenSins]

coooooollll! indeed, very neat rep and an interesting mission, pushing back the tyranid menace seems like hard work

so the nids are regrowing Elvis? I knew the king wasn't dead...

[purge the daemon]

so the nids are regrowing Elvis? I knew the king wasn't dead...

Yes

vocal weaponry killing marines with ones voice like a boss

[Kurisu313]

Sorry for the delay, but new game to be played on Wednesday. Please enjoy the prologue.

A Nest of Vipers

In the war room, Inquisitor Tobias Kurz pored over the maps and tactical documents of Novum Askalon. Perplexed, he drew General Barakov’s attention.

“What is this?” He asked, gesturing to what appeared to be an enormous building in the cities’ very heart.

Barakov looked at the map, comprehension dawning. “That is the Aperir Scientia, my Lord.”

Kurz’ eyebrows rose. “A science organisation?” He asked with distaste. Those were rare, and often sites of heresy.

“Yes, my Lord. You see, in the past, our people had a problem with low fertility rates. Our stillborn rate was staggering. Something about our home was killing us. No help was forthcoming from the Imperium at large, so a group of Magos Biologis went to work on the problem. Several centuries later, the numbers are far better, and the organisation has bloomed to the size you can see.”

It wasn’t unreasonable…however…

“Hiruzen, may I leave you here to be my eyes?” The Astartes looked at him quizzically.

“Perhaps I do not share your distrust of mankind, Lord Inquisitor, but this seems like a waste of time for a man so highly ranked.” His tone was pitched well, so as to inject just the right level of distaste in the first part, moving into praise in the second part.

Kurz didn’t know that marines could make such good politicians. But then again, Hiruzen was very old and clearly no fool. He shouldn’t underestimate the mind behind the swordsman’s skill.

“Thank you for your input,” he reprimanded directly, “but I’m going anyway.”

===][===

Approximately an hour later, Kurz disembarked from a Chimera, ten Storm Troopers fanning out behind him. A Techpriest with three Servitors alighted from another transport. Brazenly, they broke the lock on the front door and entered.

Engineers and Biologis flailed as the men passed, guns waving them against walls and into prostrate positions. It was not a subtle display.

“Who is in charge here?” He asked lightly. Clad in his golden power armour, he was imposing by his very being.

“M..me,” a timid young man responded. Actually, there was no telling how old a man well versed in the biological sciences was.

“Got it,” said the Techpriest, working at a console. “Despite its size, the facility only houses ninety three employees. The rest is mechanized; servitors and the like.”

“Gather all of your men into this room,” Kurz hissed. He produced his inquisitorial rosette, and the man panicking, hurried to obey. A few minutes later, the Storm Troopers had them all on lockdown. Kurz went to the leader, a Magos Ratman. An odd name, but it seemed to suit his pinched features.

“Now, you and I are going to take a nice tour of your facilities. All your high security areas.” The man looked like he wanted to protest, but didn’t dare.

===][===

Disappointingly, it was a dull trip. Everything appeared to be in order, and nothing spoke of heresy, beyond the basic idea of science. But then they came to the last room, the highest security area of the building.

Ratman sighed and entered the security code. A calm female voice rang out, a servitor hidden somewhere.

“Code acknowledged. Please enter secondary code.” Ratman did so. “Thank you, please enter.”

The door slid open and they entered. Kurz’ eyes widened. There was a single vat inside. Something vile was growing in there. It looked like a hybrid of man and Tyranid, bony plates erupting from every possible place.

Remembering earlier, Kurz didn’t hesitate, shooting Ratman in the head even as his claws distended. Instinctively, he shot the vat, but it was armoured and didn’t break. The thing’s eyes opened, and Kurz could feel the intelligence behind them, the psychic power.

As if in response to the psychic awakening, Genestealers began pouring out of vents and grills.

“Oh, sweet Emperor,” Kurz muttered, reading his gun. He opened his vox. “They’re all Stealers. Kill them all!”

[SevenSins]

Good luck, Kurz!