Templar vs. Renegade Imp Navy

[Desert Rat]

Templar Fleet
Battlebarge--Sigusmund
Strike Cruiser Squadron--Orion, Spartan, Dorn's Light
Strike Cruiser Squadron--Ophidium, Vengence
Imp Fist Escort Squadron--Dorn's Might, Steadfast, Dutiful (All Firestorms)
Soul Drinker Escort Squadron--Cain, Brutus, Cassius (All Firestorms)

Renegade Fleet
Emperor Battleship--Dragon's Nest
Cruiser Squadron--Fortitude (Tyrant w/nova cannon), Resolute (Tyrant), Steadfast (Dictator)
Stinger Squadron--3 Firestorms
Wasp Squadron--4 Cobras
Hornet Squadron--3 Cobras

To set it up we were playing a 1500 point game. We decided to do the Fleet Engagement scenerio. I have to admit my opponent rolled horrendously for his leadership. His highest leadership was on the Hornet squadron, the rest had 6's and 7's. We both chose the wedge formation and he got to pick which deployment area he wanted. Let's just say he chose poorly. We are still new at playing and I'm not sure he was thinking this all of the way through, any way he took the small 30cm x 60cm deployment while I got the 60cm x back of the board deployment zone. The board had a medium sized planet with the green as the gravity well. Two moons were also on the board along with 3 dust cloads (white strips of paper) and an asteroid field.

Here is the board after we set up.

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p...s/100_0802.jpg

[Desert Rat]

The rebellion had proceeded according to plan. The small fleet had come to Langron VII for rest and relaxation. The senior officers had left the ships and enjoyed the pleasure domes of the capitol city. The slaneeshi cult had been brewing on Langron for centuries. It had long been used as a "reward" for Imperial ships crews who have been on deep patrols.

This time Flag Lieutenant Meeker had carried out his plan to mutiny and take his rightful place as Admiral of the Dragon's Nest. Many of the junior officers of the fleet had graduated from the same academy, with Meeker being the most intellegent and ruthless. He bribed/extorted/threatened many of the ratings on board to help him. It didn't take much to convince them however since they weren't allowed down to the planet. Only Senior Officers ever enjoyed themselves on these R&R stops.

He assigned Rodger Staggs to the Fortitude. Staggs wasn't the most brilliant of the Junior Officers but he was the most loyal and could be counted on to carry out any order Meeker put to him.

The command of the Resolute fell to Nikoli Stakoy. Nikoli was a vicious man who kept control of his men by fear and fear alone.

The Steadfast was under the control of Lieutenant Malik Tor. Tor was a competant pilot and Meeker still owed him several thousand credits. This might make up for that.

The crews on the ships hated their old taskmasters but they were soon to wish for the good old bad days again.

+++Translation into real-space in 5...4...3...2...1.......Translation complete.... Strike Force Hengar Translation complete......Strike Force Schultz Translation complete.......Imperial Fist Squadron Translation complete...........Soul Drinker Squadron Translation complete......Entire fleet Translation complete Lord Lothar+++

"The Langron system. Nothing but decadence and blasphemy." Lothar stared at the view screen. "Comms...hail the Planetary Govenor and let him know of our need for resupply, we won't be in this system any longer than we have to." Lothar watched as the fleet passed Langron's moons. "Brother Karl's vision is leading us no where," he mused to himself "we haven't seen any sign of the renegades that he spoke of. If the Reclusiarch wasn't so passionate about this vision I'd turn us back to Armeggedon."

+++No signal from the Planetary Govenor Lord, the Imperial Navy is in anchorage. No signal from them either.+++

"Energize shields. Master Gunner go to battle conditions. Flight Master arm Thunderhawks and ready assault teams."

+++Closing on the Imperial Fleet, no energy signatures, it doesn't look like they've seen us.+++

"Comms try the fleet again, something's not right about this."

[Desert Rat]

"Lieuten...I mean Captain Staggs, a fleet has just translated and is hailing us. What do I do?" The comms officer was visibly shaking. "The mutiny was pulled off with out a hitch," Staggs thought to himself "no one could have known or gotten here so quickly." "Comms, answer the hail."

+++This is Marshal Lothar of the Adeptus Astartes Black Templars, let me speak to your captain.+++ "Marines, Emperor take me, what have I gotten my self into." Staggs thought and began to shake. He cleared his throat and said " Marshal, I am the Captain of this ship and Squadron leader of these Imperial vessels." Staggs did well to compose himself considering his situation.

Marshal Lothar eyed the young man on the view screen. He had to give the boy credit for standing up to him but it was very apparent that he was lying. "I will not ask you again boy, where is your captain?" He saw Staggs begin to shake badly. The Marshal stood up from his command platform and raised his armored fist. The view screen died. The command servitor turned to Lothar "Lord they are energizing shields and charging weapons."

"Renegades." Lothar said to himself

"Comms alert the fleet, renegades hve taken over the Imperial fleet. No Pity, No Remorse, No Fear."

The Templar fleet advanced into the Renegades. Both Strike Cruiser squadrons launched t-hawks. Hengar on the [i]Orion ordered all ships in the squadron to target Stinger Squadron. Bombardment cannons roared and destroyed one of the Firestorms and knocked down a shield of another. Hengars t-hawks were able to avoid the flack from the remaining Firestorms and destroyed them when battle brothers boarded them.

Schultze on the Ophidium had his squadron target Hornet squadron. Once again bombardment cannons roared and the squadron was wiped out.

"Captain" Staggs watched in dread as both escort squadrons were batted away with such careless ease. The Battlebarge was bearing down on his cruiser squadron and about to let loose. "Brace for Impact!" he shouted to the comms station.

"Fire at will Brother Klaus." Lothar quietly growled. Bombardment cannons shook the mighty Battlebarge as they fired, and only scored one hit on the Fortitude's shields. A full flight of torpedoes also flew from the prow of the giant ship towards the Fortitude. Debris and the Fortitude's turrets destroyed many of the torpedoes, not a single hit. The Battlebarges weapons batteries also had trouble finding any targets and only brought down one shield on the Steadfast.

The Imperial Fist and Soul Drinker escort squadrons began their run to help their Templar Brothers.

Staggs was amazed, they hadn't been hurt at all. "Comms, get Meeker on the horn and tell him to get that garbage scow of a ship over here and help us out."

End of Templar 1st turn

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p...s/100_0803.jpg

[Desert Rat]

Meeker was enjoying himself to the Admiral's liquor and his women. "Comms to the Admiral...Comms to the Admiral....Meeker are you there?" "What is it!" Meeker shouted as he tried to entangle himself from the women. "Captain Staggs is under attack from Space Marines, look." the comms rating said as he changed to the view screen. All Meeker could say was "Emperor's Ball's...alert the fleet to battlestations, fire a torpedo salvo and tell Wasp Squadron to do something."

Staggs ordered all of the cruisers to fire at the Battlebarge. Their gunnery was poor and was made worse because of them trying to un brace the weapons. After all of the smoke cleared all that Staggs' squadron did was knock down one shield. T-hawks had intercepted the torpedoes incoming and the fighter squadrons that were able to make it out of the launch bays decided to "protect" the ship against incoming t-hawks.

Wasp squadron had been on the ball and was able to sent a wave or torps into the Orion. The Orion's turrets were able to down several of the torpedoes while the ship moved out of their way.

End of Imperial Turn one

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p...s/100_0804.jpg

[Desert Rat]

"Lothar to Templar Fleet... Attack pattern Gamma!" To the bridge crew he growled, "Let's cross the T brothers."

The Sigismund bore to port to head into the renegade fleet while the screening strike cruiser squadrons followed behind.

Hengar's squadron opened fire again directing everything into the Resolute. Nikoli froze when he saw the fleet closing in on him. "Captain what do we do?" a rating sobbed as he was desperately hoping Nikoli knew what he was doing. Nikoli's whimper of an answer signed all of their deaths. "Ummm....."

Huge plasma batteries from the Orion and Spartan had found their range to the Resolute and knocked down her shields. The shield generators overloaded and started a fire in the mighty ship. Bombardment cannon volleys tore huge chunks of armor from the ship incinerating repair crews heading to the fire.

The Ophidium and Vengence range in on the Resolute. Debris for the ship make it impossible for the plasma batteries to get a hit. The bombardment cannons however burn through the debris. Captain Stakoy's last thought was "I wasn't supposed to die." Rounds from the bombardment cannons tear through the bridge and rip off most of the mast section of the ship. The remains of the Resolute begin to drift through the Templar fleet occasionally sending sparks or secondary explosions out into space.

The Sigismund launches it's torpedoes towards the Fortitude. Thunderhawks roar out of the launch bays of the fleet and head towards the Fortitude and the Steadfast. "Evasive Manuvers!" Staggs screams into the comms. The Sigismund's torpedoes fly wide and miss the Fortitude. Point defence turrets begin to fire out into space. Staggs turns to a rating, "Why are those damn turrets firing?" ++Starboard Engine room to Bridge...Marines boarding the.....++ Explosions sound over the vox and then the vox goes silent. Staggs looks around the bridge, every face looking to him for some answer to their doom. "Rig for silent running." Staggs whispers. "I never bargained for this."

End Templar turn 2

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p...s/100_0805.jpg

[Old School]

Nice battle report Desert Rat. The attached pictures help with the fantastic story too. Which side are you playing though? SMs?

And what the hell is the Dragon's Nest 'not' up to?

Cheers and sorry for interrupting,

OS

[Desert Rat]

Meeker falls back into his command chair. "This can't be happening." he whispers to himself. All eyes on the bridge are glued to their stations. A rating voice breaks the silence, "Escort squadrons on a direct heading sir....sir?" Meeker rouses himself "Why haven't the bomber squadrons taken dealt with them already?" "Sir.." the rating clears his throat, "you didn't authorize the bombers to launch...they are still on the deck waiting to launch." Meeker's face turns a livid red, "Launch the damn bombers and fire another spread of torps, and fire at will, do I have to do everything around here?".

Debris from the two cobras that the Imperial Fist and Soul Drinker squadrons destroyed floated in front of the two squadrons. A command servitor turned to address the captain of the Cain. ++Dragon's Nest is firing.....debris is absorbing 95% of the fire++ Just then the shield flared on the Cain. ++Damage control reports minimal damage....Incoming bombers..repeat..incoming bombers.++

The Lieutenent in command of Wasp squadron steadies himself and orders full ahead. The stearn of every Templar ship is pointed at him and he knows this is the best time to attack. The Vengence is filling his screen and the tension on the bridge is thick in the air. "Fire weapons!" The captain screams. Plasma bolts fly from the escorts towards the Vengence. The shields around the Vengence flair, but hold. "Torps ready captain." a rating yells. "Hold!" he cries as they continue to get closer. "Hold!" the Vengence is nearly at arms length and everyone is holding their breath. "Fire!" screams the captain as torpedoes jolt the ship as they leave the torpedo bays and head straight into the Templar ship. Space is immediately filled with flack from the Vengence. Torpedoes begin to explode from the flack. Energy discharges from the shield flares takes care of all the rest but one. That single torp flys past the mast section of the Vengence and shakes the marines in the bridge.

Schultz toggles the comm, "Sigusmund..torpedo closing in from aft!" Flak fills the air around the single torpedo headed to the mighty BattleBarge. With it's single minded task in mind the servitor on board the torpedo guides it right into the aft section of the ship. ++Damage control to aft section delta gamma...damage control to aft section delta gamma++ Lothar looks to the command servitor and grins. "A lucky shot" he growls to himself, "it won't happen again!"

On board the Fortitude chaos is ensueing. "Turn to starboard and rig for silent running I said!" Staggs screamed wild eyed to his navigator.

Malik Tor saw the Fortitude begin to curve to his starboard. "He's running, and he's going to leave us here." "Navigator shadow the Fortitude and rig for silent running." "Meeker can burn in the eye for all I care," he thought to himself "no amount of money is worth facing Adeptus Astartes." "No you idiot!" he screamed at a rating "shut the launch bays down, right now!"

End of Imperial Turn Two

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p...s/100_0806.jpg

[Desert Rat]

"Running away are you?" Lothar sneered at the screen. "Not today traitors." "Navigator shadow manuevers...Master Gunner reload torps...Flight Master rearm and refuel Thunderhawks this may be our last chance to close the net." Lothar studied his crew, with men like these mankind would retake the galaxy.

Hengar also saw what the traitors were trying to do. "Navigator come to new heading...allow starboard weapons to bear on the cruisers. Comms alert the squadron to shadow us and weapon bearings."

"Let's end this." Schultz thought to himself. "Navigator change heading to fire on the rabble to our rear." he barked out to the bridge.

The Orion opens up on the Steadfast with plasma weapons arching between the ships. Shields arc and overload the generators on board the Steadfast. Torpedoes charge from the tubes on the Sigismund. "Fire at will!" Lothar roars. Weapons batteries chew through the armor plating of the Steadfast sending crew members hurtling into space. Bombardment cannons roar and shatter the grand old ship. Torpedoes finally range in and finish the Steadfast, it lists to port and trails plumes of fire and smoke from its pock marked hull.

Staggs see's the fate of Tor and prays to anyone that the same fate doesn't happen to him. "Incoming sir....torpedoes." Flack fills space between the Fortitude and the torpedoes. Many of the turrets begin to seize due to lack of maintenence and the torps find their mark. Staggs is thrown off his command throne. Lights pop and spark and fires start in the vid screens. His head is a dull roar and he can't hear anything else. He screams at the navigator "GO TO SILENT RUNNING OR WE ARE ALL DEAD!" The navigator is going through the motions but Staggs cant tell what he's saying so he screams at him again. A medic finally pulls Staggs back to the throne and starts to look at his head wound as the Captain passes out.

"Fire!" Schultz commands and the nearest escort of Wasp squadron flares and pops. "One down, one to go."

++Bomber control this is Red one we are in attack position and makeing our run on the Soul Drinker ships...over++ Meeker listens to the flight channel and smirks to himself. "At least we will have some blood on our hands...those escorts will burn." Turrets on the Cain open up on the incoming bombers taking a bloody toll, but not enough. Two squadrons get through the flack and let loose. ++Fox five away...Fox seven away...++ Meeker's eyes were glued to the screen waiting for the corona of light to come from the Cain. ++No joy Bomber control...no detonation...I repeat no joy...It looks like we were loaded with duds sir...Red one out++ The Admiral slowely turned to flight control, "I want the servitors and loaders executed at once!" "But sir...It might have been a control problem..bomb malfunction...some" BLAM. The auto pistol in Meeker's hand had everyone's attention. The flight controller slumped to the floor, a hole right between his eyes. "Navigator rig for silent running right now...do I make myself clear?" "Yes sir." The Navigator quickly said as he got right to work.

End Templar Turn Three

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p...s/100_0807.jpg

[Desert Rat]

The bridge lights begin to dim on board the Fortitude. Staggs opens his eyes as he reclines in the command throne. Damage control secured most of the fires in the aft section and the main engines had been cut. All vox traffic, in ship and out was off. Ratings were now running orders through out the ship. The large debris field between the Fortitude and Templar fleet was enough for them to slip away. The destruction of the Steadfast had allowed Staggs and his ship to silently float away.

"It looks like we got away from the Astartes," Staggs mused to himself as he counted the minutes. "When I catch up to Meeker there is going to be hell to pay, I just need to get us somewhere to repair." "Navigator," Staggs whispered "plot a course to the last known location of the Guerillian pirate lanes. Keep us silent and make best speed."

The Dragon's Nest was a hole in space. "There is no way they will find us." Meeker thought. "Nikoli and Tor are dead, who knows what happened to Staggs." "It's to bad...I liked Nikoli and now my debt is taken care of." Meeker motioned to the Navigator. "Plot a course to the Denali sector, Gideon system. I think we will find some more friends their." He licked his lips with an elongated forked tongue as he began to think about Gideon. "I will be in my chambers, do not interupt me until we are in the Gideon system." He turned away from the bridge and walked to his room. "The battle wasn't very pleasing...I will have to make sure the rest of the voyage will be." He thought as needle sharp teeth formed into a grin.

The Lieutenent on the Wasp couldn't believe it. "Every one is gone." he gasped. He quickly put his panic in check as he turned to his Navigator. "Turn us around and try to evade detection. Get us to the Dust Cload and rig for silent running!"

The bridge door opened at that moment and a deep vox sounded, "The Emperor's light has found you traitor!" The Lt. turned to see a giant in power armor in the doorway pointing a bolt pistol at his head. "Oh sh..." was the last thing the Lt. ever thought.

++Boarding party to the Orion...ship cleansed...returning to the Orion++

Lothar scanned the bridge of the Sigismund. He turned to the comms station, "Alert Imperial Naval Sector Command and tell them they have a rouge Battleship and Cruiser in this system." "Flight Master...recall all Thunderhawks and prepare Drop pods....we have a planet to cleanse."

End of Imperial Turn 3


I'd like to thank every one that has read this Bat-Rep. My opponent really got shafted with this scenerio, and his leadership roles really screwed him.

I plan on doing several more reports...If you liked this report let me know and I will keep them coming.

[bryantroy2003]

So, you said to let you know if I liked it. Well what happens should it be more then like in the positive sense? As I dont have a camera or the attention span to do something like this, yours is awsome to look at and wonder what could have been of all the BR ive posted over the years on the interwebs.

[horizon]

What was the vps tally in the end?

[Desert Rat]

We didn't keep track of the Victory points. Two of his cruisers were destroyed, the other crusier was crippled. Seven cobras were destroyed and 3 firestorms also. I had one internal hit on the Battlebarge and that was it. We pretty much considered it a win for my Templars.

[igman3977]

wow, when it's written up like that, I don't mind haing gotten my butt handed to me.