BATTLE SCENARIO: Eden Prime

Systems Alliance Objective: Protect the beacon.

Enemy Assets:

• Unknown number of Geth.  Estimates place them between 1,000 to 6,000 mobile platforms.
• Intelligence resources of the SPECTRE office via Saren Arterius.
• Sovereign, a 2 km tall Reaper.

Friendly Assets:

• Unknown number of Alliance marines.  Estimates equate their numbers in the area to around the same as the Geth.
• Team of commandos lead by an N7 agent and a SPECTRE, Nihilus.
• Normandy SR-1, a stealth frigate.

History:

• Archeologists uncover a working Prothean beacon.  The Systems Alliance is informed who, in turn, inform the Citadel Council.
• Saren Arterius learns of this from his position as a SPECTRE.  He tells Sovereign, and gathers a task force of Geth.
• Upon entering the Utopia system, comm buoys are destroyed.  The colony is attacked in complete surprise.  Geth landed via shuttle, ambushing squads near the beacon and secure the area.
• The Normandy SR-1 exits the Mass Relay station with stealth systems engaged.  They pick up emergency transmissions from the planet showing the fighting.
• Normandy lands a commando team who head to the beacon at the cost of a marine and Nihilus.
• Saren uses the beacon, and orders bomb set up to destroy it.  He leaves shortly afterwards back to Sovereign.
• The commando team defuse the bomb and the leader also uses the beacon.  It blows up right after that.

 Could the Imperial Guard succeed where the Systems Alliance failed?

• First, we must define their assets.  Systems Alliance marines are replaced with PDF troopers and their full array of ground equipment.
• This includes armoured vehicles and artillery.
• The planet is replaced with an Imperial world of similar importance.  It has multiple deep space augurs in orbit.
• The Normandy and her crew are replaced with a small Imperial frigate and an Inquisitor with acolytes.
• The augur stations in space will give advanced warning of Sovereign's approach, allowing for the troopers groundside to not be caught unawares.
• Since Geth protection is optimized against kinetic impactors they will prove easier for the lasguns to kill than Necrons.  Their lack of armour will also be a hindrance against the Leman Russ tanks or even the Chimera-based light tanks of the Guard.
• Needless to say, if the Geth don't reach the beacon in the opening stages of their landing, they will not get to it.  The PDF could hold them long enough for the Inquisitor to retrieve the beacon and leave.

How would the Imperial Guard fare in place of the Geth?

• First, we must define their assets.  Geth are replaced with Guardsman, Saren with an Inquisitor, and Sovereign with a transport ship.
• Comms buoys are destroyed (just like in the original battle) during the ship's approach.
• The landing would be conducted with wings of Valkyries.  This ensures they can land wherever they want, and have close-in aerial support for their assault.
• Their rapid insertion guarantees their ability to secure the beacon.
• After the Inquisitor uses it, they can use the Valkyries to withdraw to orbit.  Then, the orbiting ship would conduct an Exterminatus on the site to destroy the beacon and anyone in the area.  This ensures nobody else could use it, and might cover their trail.

Conclusions:  Their particle weapons make things easier for the infantry to dominate their counterparts; and their combined-arms tactics make it easier to achieve their objective, no matter which side they're on.  The early warning system in orbit will make sure they aren't surprised by the attack, and the ability for rapid insertion and rapid relocation is their best weapon on the attack.

I give the Imperial Guard 2 for 2 points for this scenario.

Fire Over Leto Highway

Segmentum Tempestus 997.M41

System: Harkonnen; Planet: Arrakia

Location: Leyton City


Hundreds of planes roared through the sky on their way to attack the capitol of Arrakia.  Formations of Lightnings were ahead of the Thunderbolts and Avengers, who themselves flew tens of miles in front of the Marauders.  The 59th Estrucian Air Regiment comprised the center  of the first wave.  Air Wing Veri was leading the assault.

Tarquin noted the massive black line snaking its way through the desert towards the horizon.  As they flew ever closer to the capitol, Leto Highway turned from a single line to a complex of roads shooting out in all directions.  "Rookie!  Keep to formation!" he heard over the channel.

He found his plane was drifting to the right.  "Sorry ma'am."  The plane was eased back into place.  "The highway is impressive, though.  Wouldn't you say?"

"Yeah, it is; that highway is what keeps life going on this planet.  Leyton City is the only place on this world with a spacep..."  There was silence on the line that seemed an eternity.  "Command, we have a break-out attempt by Chaos!  I'm spotting Rhinos, Vindicators, and Predators in the dozens with a far larger number of Chimeras."

Tarquin looked back down at the ground.  Large bands of dust clouds partially obscured those vehicles behind the front line.  Some of them appeared to possess quad-barrelled turrets.  He noticed that those turrets turned to look at them.  "Ma'am we have Hydras!"

"Damn!  We have let the Thunderb..."  Flak clouds erupted in their vicinity.  The planes scatter.  Tarquin sends his into a climb.  After levelling out over two thousand meters higher, he searches the sky for others from his wing.  Multiple smoke trails told of Lightnings shot down.  He spotted another with red-striped wings just before the engine exploded; its head tumbling to the ground, the pilot unable to eject.

A plane rolled over him, belly up.  Tarquin's attention snapped to the noise.  The pilot of the other Lightning waved at him.  He recognized the plane as Sethra.  As she completed the roll to level with him, Tarquin spotted several glints of sunlight approaching them.  They were to the right and above the Lightning's position.

He pointed to them, directing Sethra's attention.  She saw them and indicated back to him with a thumbs up.  Her plane climbed while banking into a roll to the right.  Tarquin kicked his craft to follow.

While they were belly up, the approaching could finally be identified as Hell Blades.  The enemy craft fired their Autocannons.  Tarquin tried to ignore the intense increase of comm chatter as other pilots cried in horror of the enemy attacking from multiple angles.  Soon, Sethra completes her roll behind the Hell Blades.  She unleashed her lascannons as soon as she could; Tarquin close behind.

One exploded into a fireball, and the second loses a wing.  Everyone else in the formation dispersed as their compatriot spins out of control.  The one Tarquin was about to shoot turns to the left into Sethra's fire.  Another Hell Blade turned into a fireball.

Tarquin followed as Sethra pursued an enemy turning to the left.  They went in a circle two times hoping to get the enemy in their gunsight.  Tarquin noted that the Hell Blade was making its turn tighter with each consecutive circle.  It was only a matter of time before that could be used to get their turn, and ultimately on their tail.

Another circle happened, and another.  The Hell Blade came closer to their backsides.  Halfway through the next, Sethra inverts and dives for the deck.  Tarquin sends his plane into a climbing roll to the left; when his belly is up, he also goes into a dive.  A hail of fire erupts during the manoeuvre; a number of impacts slam into the body right behind the canopy and trail upward to the tail.

The Lightnings pull out and begin their climb with less than three hundred meters to the ground.  Their opponent climbed opposite them, the pilot looking viewing them from his canopy.  Both groups fly up as far as their planes can go, the Hell Blade peaks at slightly above them, before their arc brings them back into a dive.

It was then that another two Hell Blades streak out of the clouds above to fire at them.  None of their shots were close, but Sethra banks to the left and hits the afterburners after levelling out.  One of the new arrivals pulls a banking right climb into a dive to chase her done.  The other does an inverting roll to make its dive parallel to Tarquin.

Tarquin had to immediately pull his plane back into a climb to avoid getting shot.  His opponents took some seconds to react accordingly.  The new Hell Blade hit its afterburners after starting its climb.  Autocannon shells impacted tore off the tip of a wing before the plane came, uncomfortably, close and passed Tarquin.  Despite how easy a target the Hell Blade became, Tarquin resisted the temptation to shoot it.

More Autocannon shells whizzed by his cockpit.  He looked back to see the other Hell Blade keeping up with him through the manoeuvre.  They went back into the dive.  A single lascannon shot blew apart the Hell Blade that tried to kill him just seconds ago.  He rolled the plane to avoid the explosion and shrapnel.

The other enemy proceeded on, and pulled back into the climb at the same level as Tarquin.  Both planes continued on through two more rounds.  Heading into the third, Tarquin's plane was loose in its transition back to climb.  The enemy zipped on ahead, and ended up above him.  The Lightning continued the turn until it pointed the Hell Blade and fired.

An explosion tore the opponent in half; the pilot managing to eject beforehand.  Tarquin managed to evade the explosion, but shrapnel could be heard pelting all over.  He levelled out, and checked his instruments.  One of the tail rudders was inoperable and the fuel was leaking.  Tarquin called it a day and flew out of the combat zone without incident.

Arrakian Accord: Recent summation

Air Strike in Leytan

The Battlefield of Leytan

Chaos Champion, precursor to the World Eaters

XII Regiment Squad

Different battle, still a nice pic tho

Well guys, it's been a while. Here is a summation of events of the campaign. There have been two battles, lost to the annals of history.
Summed up: The tau arrived and pleaded for assistance from the Imperials, specificially the steel nightmares. In exchange for helping fight the heretics, the tau will be given mechanical assistance.

Leytan city was secured in a bloody, bloody fight. It was an apocolypse size game that left hundreds dead or wounded. However with the securing of the Leytan spaceport, The Imperials can now reinforce themselves. The lack of supplies and men will lead to massive refit operation and supply drops. The rest will be revealed in the next arrakian accord proper.

VII Regiment squad

VII Vatarian Commander

Battle Report: Two-Turns of Total Triumph

This was a quick 2,500 point 2v2 battle that James and I had with a couple of buddies on Saturday.  I apologize for the lack of pictures on this but my camera has a bad battery right now.

James' Forces: Imperial Guard
Leman Russ Command Squad (Vanquisher {Warlord} and 2 Demolishers)
2 Veteran Squads (Grenadier)
1 Veteran Squad (Forward Sentry [with Lord Commissar and Chimera])
Scout Sentinel Squad (2 Autocannons and 1 Missile Launcher)
Banewolf
Allied Forces: Space Marines (Imperial Fists rules)
Pedro Kantor {Warlord}
Techmarine (2 Servitors)
Sternguard Veterans (Heavy Bolter [Razorback (Heavy Bolters)])
2 Tactical Squads (10 Man [Heavy Bolter]) [Rhino]
Scout Squad (Camo Cloaks)
Venerable Dreadnought
Stormraven

My Guys: Space Marines (Iron Hands rules)
Master of the Forge (Bike)
Techmarine
Sternguard Veterans (Heavy Bolter, Power Weapon and Plasma Pistol)
[Razorback (Lascannons)]
2 Tactical Squads (Lascannon)
1 Tactical Squad (10 Man [Meltagun and Multi-Melta], Melta Bomb) [Rhino]
Attack Bike Squad (3 Bikes [Multi-Melta])
Thunderfire Cannon
Predator (Lascannons)
Hunter
Vindicator
Allied Forces: Imperial Guard
Command Squad (All Advisers)
3 Veteran Squads
2 Veteran Squads (2 Chimeras)
Veteran Squad (with Commissar)
Leman Russ

Turn 1a: James' team had the initiative that I utterly failed to seize.  He had the Sentry Veterans infiltrate on to a skypad that was made better by their Techmarine.

Their movement consisted of moving the two Demolisher Russes forward, while the Venerable Dreadnought and the left field Rhino scurried into cover.

First shots rung from the Sentry Vets aimed at Tactilas Squad 1 (sitting on top of a upgraded ruin).  Three hits resulted, but zero wounds came about.  Both Demolisher Russes fired at the Command Squad (in another upgraded ruin) to cause a whopping three casualties.  The Razorback shot at the other Tactilas Squad 2 which resulted in one dead marine.

Command Squad's morale held firm.

Turn 1b:
A Veteran Squad and Venerable Dreadnought moved out of their ruins while the the Vindicator rolled into one without getting immobilized.  Attack Bike Squad (and attached Master of the Forge) drove the edge of the board behind a building.  Melta Squad Rhino blitzed forward as far as it could.  The Lasorback moved clear of the Thunderfire Cannon's view.  Last move was the repositioning of the Lasdator.

First, an artillery strike was called upon the Sentry Vets, but rolled off onto the Command Russ without damage.  The Thunderfire Cannon unleashed a barrage of air-bursting shrapnel that killed three of them.  Both melta weapons lined up their snap shots on a Demolisher Russ, and miraculously hit and penetrated with both.  This resulted in a tank with a stunned crew.  The Hunter (sitting behind a chest high wall) fired at the right field Rhino, but failed to score a hit.  Tactilas Squad 1 immobilized the Lord Commissar's Chimera.  Tactilas Squad 2 and the Leman Russ destroyed both weapons on the enemy Razorback.  Lasorback takes aim at the side armor of the Command Russ and penetrates it.  After barely failing the cover save, the tank suffered an "Exploded!" result.  Lasdator turns the other Demolisher Russ into an exploding husk with a single shot to the side armor.  The Vindicator breached the side armor of the remaining Russ and made it a wreck.  Finally, the Rhino popped smoke.

Sentry Vets refused to run.
 
Victory Points: 0-4

Turn 2a:  Despite the success of the Officer of the Fleet, all reserves come into play.  Sentinels and Scouts outflank into the corner behind the Thunderfire Cannon.  Banewolf outflanks into position behind a Vet Squad squatting in ruins. Stormraven flies straight at my Venerable Dreadnought.

The ruined Razorback retreats behind cover as their Dreadnought marches forward.

Scouts immediately open fire on the Techmarine stationed at the cannon; killing him instantly.  Sentinel Squad unleashed their arsenal into the back of my allies' Leman Russ which only resulted in one hull point taken.  Sentry Vets fire again at Tactilas Squad 1, but fail to cause a single wound. Stormraven and Chimera unload everything they have against the Venerable Dreadnought to a result of two hull points taken and a crew stunned.  The Heavy Bolter sitting in the left field Rhino manages to pierce the smoke cloud and glance the side armor of my sole Rhino.  Banewolf spewed its toxic concoction into a crowd of Veterans; killing six of them.

The Veterans who suffered from the Banewolf's attack had held firm their resolve and stayed put.  I failed both of the "It Will Not Die" rolls, so neither the Dreadnought or Rhino got anything back.

Turn 2b:  My ally managed to get ally of his reserves onto the table.  One squad of Veterans rushed up right behind his Leman Russ.  The other two showed up around the Banewolf.

Master of the Forge and his squad hightail it back to their original (except facing the Sentinels).  Sternguard Vets abandon their Lasorback while the accompanying Techmarine went to man the Thunderfire Cannon.  The Melta Squad jumped out of their Rhino as its engines gunned it forward as far as possible.  Though badly damaged, the Dreadnought stepped towards the Lord Commissar and his Vets.

Sternguard Veterans decimate the entire Scout Squad with a hail of Kraken Bolt rounds.  The Attack Bikes blast away at the Sentinels with their Multi-Meltas; resulting in two being immobilized and the other merely being shaken.  Leman Russ fails to score any hits against the enemy Dreadnought.  Krak grenades thrown by two entire squads of Veterans only take a hull point from the Banewolf.  One shot from the Lasdator causes it to explode, which kills a combined three Veterans from both squads.  A combined attack from air-bursting shells and an artillery strike kill six Sentry Vets.  Lasorback fails to do any damage against enemy Rhino.  Demolisher shell from the Vindicator veers off of the Chimera and annihilates the Lord Commissar's squad.  Everything else (that could) fires at the Stormraven, but does no damage.

The lone Sentry Vet failed his morale and ran off the board.

The Attack Bike charges the Sentinels and utterly fails at their "Hammer of Wrath" and normal attacks.  When the Sentinels retaliated, they killed a marine.  Last to attack was the Master of the Forge who, with his four attacks, caused all three Sentinels to explode (killing a Veteran who was really close to the action).  With their consolidation, they headed back up the board.

It was at this point that James' team decided to surrender the match.

Final Score: 1-10