Astral Claw – (Secessionists) – Brooks

Nova Marines (Loyalist) – Kevin

Sector 2

Battle 1,500 points using Planet Strike Vanguard

Captain Aadok of the Nova Marines watched intensely as the jaw of his Chapter Master continually tightened.  The Chapter Master had been staring at intelligence reports on the communication facility located on Verkruz for several minutes.  Captain Aadok knew he didn’t have to speak the words needed to be brought out into the air.  “The facility is guarded by elite troops of the Astral Claws”.  Reports indicate that the Astral Claws Chapter Master has positioned himself there along with heavy armor, terminators, sternguard, and assault vanguard.  Without look up the Nova Marine Master simply said “I’ll go”.

The Nova Marine scouts had worked themselves into a building which would allow them to support the attack with their sniper rifles. They watch the first of the drop pods fall with it retro rockets firing to slow its decent.  He’s too early thought the scout sergeant without the support of the other marines they would be sitting ducks. The pod crashed to the ground releasing the marines.  The marines disembarked with skill only known to their chapter. One marine stepped forward and leveled his melta gun at the nearby land raider igniting its weapons storage into a ball of flames.  Caught by the surprise attack the Astral Claw terminators struggled to free themselves from the wreckage. Within seconds the air glowed as a second marine squad materialized within striking distance of a key communication array.  

The Astral Claw Frigate responded to their Chapter Master’s call for orbital bombardment.  The Captain reading off the firing coordinates with skill expected of the seasoned veteran.  Lieutenant Phani's heart stopped was it 00556 or 00565?  He must have said 005657 as the lance bean cut through the atmosphere.  With his focus on freeing himself from the burning land raider the Astra Claw terminator gasped as four of his brother were vaporized. With power weapons blazing, the Astral Claw Vanguard squad crashed into the Nova Marines seeking revenge for their brothers.  However, the near miss of the lance battery disrupted their attack and they were unable to wound any marines.

As the battle progress the remaining Nova Marine and terminator squad lead by the Chapter Master and dreadnought entered the battle.  With limited target the shooting was ineffective.  Both armies quickly found themselves locked in close combat.  With the help of the remaining Astral Claw terminators, the Vanguard squad was finally able to destroy their initial Nova Marine target only to have the Nova Marine Terminators and Chapter Master end their reign of terror.  The Nova Marine Scout move into a better position to take control of one the communication arrays.  With all squads locked in close combat the Astral Claw Sternguard had no targets to shot.  The Nova Marine dreadnought found a creative way of disrupting the third communication array.  Faced with destroying the landing pad, he simple opted to walk under the building to unplug the wires from below.  Unable the shoot at the dreadnought the Astral Claw were helpless when all communications from their array stopped.  The Astral Claw Chapter Master found himself and his squad locked in battle.  Through a battle of arbitration the Astral Claw Chapter Master was thrown to the ground.

As the smoke cleared the Nova Marines were in control of two communication arrays with the third one disabled.  The battle lines had shifted that day as remaining Astral Claws retreated carrying the limp body of their Chapter Master.

Games Results: Nova Marine Victory - Nova Marines 12 points and Astral Claws 5 points

One shot wonder as land raider goes up in flames

Brooks Orbital Bombards his own terminators

The Second Failed Assault on Grief

The Loyalist forces amassed an armada to try to force a breach to the surface on Grief.  After a brief naval skirmish, the loyalist forces landed to assault out-posts and fortifications.  During the assault the Tau and Chaos forces decided to intervene on the side of the Loyalists (giving Huron even more reason to loathe the lowly worshipers of greed).  The assault was fended off in a lengthy engagement where both sides suffered losses.

Here are the current standings as of today at 1:30 p.m., from all of the reported battles to date.  There were other battles fought, but I do not have reports on them.

sector	Loyalist CP’s	Secessionist CP’s	Required CP’s
Sector 1	0	0	25
Sector 2	32	18	70
Sector 3	12	72	100
Sector 4	0	0	100
Sector 5	2	0	50
Sector 6	2	14	40
Sector 7	0	0	10
Total	48	104	395

Happy gaming!

M

Flames of War - more photos!

Here are the Italian tanks assaulting the village held by the French Foreign Legion.  The Legion held out for a short while, but the concentrated MG fire from the Italian tanks was too much for the Legion and they pulled back into a corner of the town to try to hold on to a part of the objective for as long as they could.  The Italians lost an entire Bersaglieri platoon in the assaults while the platoon of the French was reduced to half of their initial strength. 



A view of the French defense in depth of the roadway toward Marseille.  You can see the Italian air support attacking the French Mortar platoon which has been harassing the Italians at range all game.  The French mortar platoon pinned down and eliminated several Italian stands and was by far the most effective thing the French fielded this battle.  For sheer enemy commander harassment they rated a 10.  The Italian commander went out of his way to try to neutralize them - without effect until late in the game!



Here is a view of the Italians holding the heights of the hills surrounding the river valley with artillery and AA guns in the anti-armor role.  The Italians did not have the 90mm gun on truck in 1940, but they did have a 102mm gun on truck - so we rated it as an Anti-Tank of 10 because the gun did not have a solid core projectile, merely a very large HE round to lob at targets.  They did their job, buy only just.  They were instrumental later in the game for halting the French beginnings of a counter-attack cold.



Another view of the  battlefield showing the Italians moving across the shallow river following the Bersaglieri and tank assault into the village toward the ruins and Marseille.  The forest immediately to the left in this photo is filled with French Foreign Legion in WWI uniforms where they have dug in to hold the line.  They will prove critical in later stages of the fighting.



A view of the Italian left flank showing the difficulty in forcing the roadway to Marseille.  A platoon of Char B1 bis tanks hold the high ground flanked by dug in Foreign Legion troops.  They are also bolstered by French metropolitan troops holding a ruin on the heights.  The light green patches are vinyards or orchards which provide cover and block line of sight through them, but are otherwise of no consequence.  The lone Italian tank on the high ground is the lone burning vehicle of an entire platoon which attempted to force the high ground and found out how deadly the Char B's guns were at close range.  The one Char B which is smoking is due to the Italian AA on the opposite ridge.



This is an odd view for the Blog, because I didn't rotate the photo.  This is a lengthwise photo of the battlefield.  The bottom of the photo shows the Italian left flank, while the top of the photo is the Italian right flank.  The Italian artillery, Semoventi and Carri platoons and infantry platoons are shown occupying the orchards and burned out village south of the river.  The Italian AA guns can barely be viewed in the top right of the photo.  The French dispositions are shown clearly with a defense in depth with dug in infantry and artillery supported by two platoons of Char B tanks.



RIGHT THERE!!!  The Semoventi assault guns are playing a game of cat and mouse with the Char B tanks.  The Char B's are virtually impregnible to the Semoventi's gun at this range, but there is a remote chance the French will be bailed out.  The greater threat to the Char B's is the AA guns on the hill out of view.  The Italian 100mm guns are bombarding the Char B's and would have engaged them in a direct fire duel if they could have seen through the orchard!  A tenuous position for the Italians.




The Italians charge forward after their sniper silenced the French HMG team in the ruins - much to the disappointment of the French player.  The Sniper team was subsequently removed for being too close to his own troops.  (Most likely he just picked up his weapon and joined the infantry in the charge for the ruins!)  The Italians would not last on the hill for very long!



Here we see the beginning of the collapse of the French defenses.  The Italian light tanks have broken through and are heading into the French infantry positions chasing off the French Mortar platoon and parts of the infantry platoon.  Without any anti-tank capability (or pioneers) the French infantry are at the mercy of the Italian tankers and the Char B tanks are in no position to assist them as the Italians are too quick and can rapidly move out of the line of fire.  The French fire was ineffective as you can see the French split their fire into several platoons - doing NOTHING except bailing out two Italian medium tanks.  The light tanks were missed completely, leaving them in a position to secure the roadway and harass the French infantry all the way back to Marseille.

In the end, it was an Italian minor victory.  They were able to secure the town (most of it and would have secured the rest in short order when the remainder of their infantry came forward.  The French mistake was taking too many of the brute Char B tanks and not enough artillery and anti-tank support.  (which is of course my fault as I built two of the French lists for players to flesh out the French army - it was also a way to show case to all of the players - mainly Warhammer 40K players - that combined arms is the way to win battles in historical games like Flames of War.  No single arm is capable of winning the battle.  Here the Italian commanders had a robust force of infantry, light and medium tanks, assault guns, artillery, AA guns and air support.  All of them did their duty well (for Italians that is!) and they were able to penetrate the French defenses and then halt the French counter-assault before it even materialized.  The Char B is a great defensive tank, but not so good without support in the attacking role.  I hope you enjoyed the report - I will try to do a better report next time (when I'm not supervising a 40K campaign, a 10 year old, and teaching 3 players how to play the game!).

Italy invades France! News at 11!

Photos from the game today! Italians with three carri platoons, semoventis and artillery support assaulted forward into France. France responded by sending a full three platoons from one of the Brigades de Chars de Combat of Char B1 bis tanks a metropolitan infantry company and two forward deployed foreign legion platoons. Quite a slug fest, but the Italians pushed forward and captured one objective.  Here you can see the assault forward of the Italian medium tanks on the heights held by the French in the face of a platoon of Char B tanks.  Two of the Chars are bailed out.  The remaining Chars would have a field-day and destroy the Italian platoon on their bound.  The Semoventi's in the left of the photo have already found out that they are no match in a gunnery duel with the massive French Chars!  The Italian infantry platoon on the bottom right of the photo will later ford the river and assault the woods filled with French Foreign Legion troops.  The Legion would do what it always did, it would die rather than retreat - and in this instance they killed all of the Italian troops in that Bersaglieri platoon in a heated close assault.

The Pursuit of the Raptors - two Kill Team Missions

 Game 1. 200 pt kill teams
Jeff: raptors
5 Tac marines
5 assault marines
Andrew: Executioners
10 Tac Marines "Semper Victorai"
Spc Hector McLaury Heavy Bolter, Relentless
Sgt Talor Gannick: Power Weapon, Furious Charge.
 After a failed assault on Grief, a squad of the fleeing Loyalists belonging to the Raptors were tracked to a ruined factorum on one of the planets Adeptus Mechanicus Enclaves. Scout Sgt Fredricks and his scout cadre had tracked them and, as ordered, reported their location and activity.
 Sgt Gannick and his squad, known as the"Semper Victorai,'' were ordered to prevent them from rejoining their chapter brothers. So Gannick deployed near the factorum and advanced on their last known position. Good fortune! They had caught the loyalist scum off guard.   
  As they began their assault, two of enemy astartes were cut down by bolter fire from the newest inductees into the Semper Victorai. Elated at his first kill, one private advanced too far forward, and an enemy Assault Marine jumped forward and spat flaming prometheum onto the foolhardy marine and he collapsed, smoke rising from his armor. Sgt Gannick roared forward as he charged the big brute of an assault marine, and began a flowing pattern of slashing and stabbing until the big warrior bellowed in frustration and lunged for Gannick. In that one fatal moment, Gannick leaped forward and pierced the marines 2 hearts and with a grunt, he fell dead.
  Bolter fire cracked in the distance and Gannick heard two of his brothers confirm their kills. He then heard Spc. Mclaury calling for aid. He looked over to see him being assailed by yet another Assault Marine, but luckily he was a skilled fighter and had managed to avoid the deadly edge of the marines blade. Gannick lept over the rubble seperating himself from Spc. Mclaurey, jumped again and slammed the blade of his power gauntlet into the back of the assault marine, the momentum carrying it through the mans side.
   The enemy astartes rushed foward engaging with Gannicks squad in hand to hand combat. Gannick saw his opportunity, and moved to aid his occupied brothers. And within  20 seconds had killed yet another two of the enemy marines one being the enemy assault squads Sgt. He then heard the jubilant yell of victory coming through his com system. It was Cpl. Killian, who had just struck down his opponent. Now free of his engagement Killian rushed over to end the life of yet another of the loyalist marines who had double teamed one of his brothers.
   As the last loyalist fell, Gannick took a tally. Only two battle brothers lost, and one intiate severely burned. The apothecary insured Gannick that he would recover in two weeks. It was a resounding success but for the casulties.
Battle 2: 200 pt killteams
Jeff: 10 tactical marines: 1 lascannon, 1 meltagun.
Sgt: Furious Charge and powerweapon
tac marine: lascannon, relentless
Andrew: 10 Tactical marines: 1 Plasma gun, 1 heavy bolter
Spc McLaurey: Heavy Bolter, relentless
Sgt Talor Gannick: Power weapon, furious charge
Pvt. Marko Killian: Fleet.
  With the success of their first engagement on Grief, the Semper Victai were organized into one of many Hunter Killer squads, and then dispatched to a particularly well fortified sector of the Adeptus Mechanicus  Enclave.
  While on patrol, they approached a bunker 3 kilometers north east of the foward position communications battery that was established in the Adeptus Mechanicus Enclave. A brother signaled that he had seen the metallic flash of a bolter struck by sunlight. At Talors command the squad jumped into action. Spc McLaury rushed forward and leveled his bolter at the first loyalist he saw. Gouts of flame and smoke rushed from the barrel of his Mk III Heavy Bolter, and round casings littered the ground. After the smoke subsided he could see the only damage he had done was to gouge a rut into the marines shoulder pad.
 Gannick led four of his marines, including the young Killian around the the left side of the bunker. He looked around the corner swiftly and realized he had caught the enemy off guard once again, he gave the order charge. Two of his marines blazed away with their bolters while Killian positioned himself with Gannick. Gannik bellowed as he charged forward into the nearest marine and decapitated him with a back handed stroke of his bladed gauntlet. The bolters felled yet another of the loyalist marines as well.
  On the other side of the field McLaury caught a bolter round to the chest and was knocked unconscious. In retaliation a victoria brother wielding a plasma gun leveled his carbine at the marine who laid low his comrade, with the hellfire scream of plasma, he reduced the enemy astartes to little more than ashes. The other victorai with McLaury, charged forward and engaged two of the enemy marines in hand to hand.
  Just a few hundred feet away the Raptor Sergent, seeing his men fall, was angered to the breaking point. He charged Gannick screaming like a madman, and slammed his shoulder into Gannick, knocking him off his feet. As he fell, the Raptor Sergent split him from shoulder to hip releasing his spirit to the empyrean. A raptor leveled his lascannon and dealt a grievous wound to an unfortunate Victorai before heeding his sergents call to retreat. As he turned to run, Killians fellow initiate, Pvt. Loruin, leveled his bolter, thumbed the switch to rapid fire and with a deadly accurate fusillade of rounds, ended the life of the fleeing astartes.

Badab War Campaign Standings by Sector

Standings of the Campaign as of January 16, 2010 from all battles reported:

sector	Loyalist CP’s	Secessionist CP’s	Required CP’s
Sector 1	0	0	25
Sector 2	32	18	70
Sector 3	7	50	100
Sector 4	0	0	100
Sector 5	2	0	50
Sector 6	2	14	40
Sector 7	0	0	10
Total	43	82	395

 Come on guys - we need to get more battles reported and fought.  If you haven't fought a battle this weekend, take advantage and get one in - even a small skirmish!  Every point helps!

The Scourging of Verkruz

Astral Claw – (Secessionists) – Brooks

Nova Marines (Loyalist) – Kevin

Sector 2

Battle 1,500 points using Annihilation / Pitched Battle

Astral Claws: Captain, 10 terminators, 10 Vanguard, 10 scout sniper rifle, 10 space marines.
Nova Marines:  Captain & command squad, land raider crusader, dreadnought, attack bike, 3 units of 10 space marines.

Having consolidated their position around the power generator located on Verkruz, the Nova Marines began a series of recon missions.  Captain Aadok still recovering from his wounds directed Captain Shyam to recon, locate and establish a forward base in the Napf Valley. Upon arrival at the valley, the Nova Marines discovered the Astral Claws using the valley as an assembly point. 

The Nova Marines began to set up fire stations to strike at the Astral Claw's assembly point when they struck the Nova Marines positions in force.  Forward elements of Astral Claws scout snipers opened fire on the Nova Marines, drawing the dreadnought, attack bike, and one squad away from the main battle.   Astral Claws tactical marines and a vanguard assault squad launched their assault, but were quickly pinned down by the fire power the Nova Marines Crusader and dreadnought.  Knowing his army was out gunned the Astral Claws commander ordered the vanguard squad to assault the Nova Marines Landraider Crusader hoping to destroy it and its occupants, Captain Shym and his command squad.  The vanguards sold their lives as they absorbed the fire power of the Nova Marines and reached the Crusader with only a few men.  While the attack of the Vanguard was unsuccessful it was merely a diversion as a a full strength terminator squad teleported within assault distance of the Nova Marines Captain. 

Having dispatched the Astral Claws vanguards, the Nova Marines directed all fire at the terminators.  Four of the Astral Claws terminators were blown apart from Plasma Cannon fire.  With guns blazing, the terminators charged both the crusader and command squad.  The Nova Marines command squad was forged from blood and steel and weathered both the shooting and assault of the terminators killing several in return.  Anticipating the pending doom of their captain and his command squad the shaken Crusader repositioned itself to a better firing position.  Outnumbered the Nova Marines Captain prepared for the terminator assault.  Many blows were exchanged and both sides suffered losses, in the end the Nova Marines Captain laid broken and unconscious.  But as the dust settled, amidst the blood and carnage, a lone Nova Marines veteran stood.  With both sides bloodied, orders were given and both armies made tactical withdrawals to consolidate their forces.  

Games Results: Tie - Nova Marines 4 points and Astral Claws 4 points

 

The Failed Assault on Grief

Brother Captain Tomar Elgos of the Raptors had studied the sector well, and based upon his studies believed that a rapid strike into the Grief system and a well-articulated assault would crush the Secessionists in short order.  Brother Captain Tomar explained to his brother captains and the chapter master that in order to destroy the snake, one must cut the head off of it.  There was much debate and discussion of the plans, the defenses, and the intelligence they had gained through the use of as yet loyal agents on Grief.  During the discussions a priority code Prioris Maximus, Clearance Umbra/Amaranth/Omega communication was received from their contact on Grief.  The communication simply stated "the Lion sleeps tonight" together with coordinates which were correlated to an out-lying defense post on Grief.  The communique was seen as a great omen, for the Lion was none other than Lught Huron, Chapter Master of the Astral Claws, and the Tyrant of Badab.  Plans were swiftly put into motion to land an assault force under the cover of night and several Thunderhawks were dispatched with a surgical strike force destined to take the fight to the head of the Astral Claws!  The Raptors prepared their assault force to land and swiftly move on the isolated fortress to catch the Lion while he slept.  Unforseen by the Raptors in the intial planning stage was a small satelite, too small to be of any use, or so they thought.  The satelite detected the Raptors movements and in a short burst of coded transmissions informed the Astral Claws of the pending assault.  The coded transmission was intercepted by the Raptors too late for them to do anything but hope that their plans would succeed because the reinforcements would not have sufficient time to reach the outpost before the assault was done.

The Raptors plan was to land a large compliment of space marines, three full squads in transports, a landraider, a predator, together with a bike squad and a devastator squad to land and immediately assault the bastions.  As the assault moved forward, a strike squad of Vanguard Veterans led by Brother Captain Tomas Elgos would assault the bastions from deep strike using their jump packs while Brother Sergeant Borios Algernon led his scouts to a forward position and planted a locator beacon for Brother Captain Maron Deukalion and his squad of Terminators to teleport directly into the Lion's den!  The landing of the majority of the strike force was done without incident and they were able to make excellent time and were ahead of their timetables.  The Raptors quickly began the assault, blissfully unaware of the preparations made by Huron and the Astral Claws.

As the first sharp cracks of lascannon fire erupted, splitting the silence of the dawn, one of the bastions of the outpost was destroyed - the Raptors drew first blood.  However, they were woefully unprepared for the onslaught of the Astral Claws.  During the time between the satelite warning and the assault, a scant 30 minutes, Huron called upon his Strike Cruiser Invigilus Deus to drop an orbital bombardment on the strike force just before the Raptors reached the minefields surrounding the fortress.  Huron laughed as the Raptors raced forward into his trap!  The orbital bombardment from the Invigilus Deus landed right on target, the plasma torpedo burned through the hull of the Raptors Landraider with ease, leaving nothing but a smoking hulk.  The Raptors were undaunted, they raced forward knowing that only speed and courage would see them through the day and hopefully a swift end of the secession, for they knew Huron was close at hand!

The Astral Claws then unleashed hell upon the Raptors, for the Raptors were unaware that the Invigilus Deus had teleported two devastator squads, and a full squad of Sternguard veterans directly into the fortress to bolster the defenses while two landraiders of the Astral Claws were dropped by Thunderhawk transports complete with two full tactical squads led by Brother Captain Kallistos Ptammitechus and the Masters of the Chapter.  Huron boarded his Landraider Crusader with his bodyguard of terminators and the Astral Claws moved forth to counter-attack the Raptors!

Believing that a quick assault would turn the tide, Brother Captain Tomar landed with his Vanguard veterans, and met the silently deployed snipers of the Astral Claws.  Before he knew it, Brother Captain Tomar had lost half of his squad.  Then came the end, for the Astral Claws landraider redeemer burst forth from the fortress and the Flamestorm cannons belched forth gouts of death leaving only Brother Captain Tomar standing, but it was not for long as Kallistos burst forth from inside the landraider with his squad and assaulted him.  Brother Captain Tomar's lightning claws bounced off the powerful energy fields of Kallistos storm shield and his iron halo was unable to deflect the blow of Kallistos thunderhammer.

Huron and his bodyguard intercepted Raptor's master of the hunt Brother Sergeant Rosarius Malikir and his bike squad on the bridge into the fortress.  Huron lept from his transport and assaulted into the bike squadron.  Huron met Raptor's Brother Sergeant Malikir and with murderous fury slew him.  Huron, then moved forward and located Brother Sergeant Borios Algernon in the ruins of a portable bunker at the outer edge of the outpost.  As Huron move forward all of the remaining big guns of the Raptors fired upon Huron and his bodyguard, all of them eventually falling to the onslaught of the Raptors Predator Annihilator, the devastator squad and dreadnought's fire power.  However, the fire into Huron's bodyguard in a vain attempt to kill Huron was for nought.  Huron burst into the ruins and found the Raptors scouts and with a gout of flame and the flicker of the Tyrant's claw, they were laid to rest.  The last scout standing was Brother Sergeant Borios Algernon, who despite his famed skill with his stalker pattern bolter, was unable to slow or even wound the Lion Huron in his rage!  Huron continued his bloody assault moving under cover to avoid the deadly fire of the massed Raptors.

Brother Captain Kallistos moved with speed by remounting his landraider redeemer and covered the distance between the fortress and the Raptor's battleline crushing two squads of Raptors who attempted to bar his path.  Kallistos reached the Dreadnought of the Raptors and after dodging the blows of the venerable dreadnought, smashed through the defenses and destroyed it.

The plans for Brother Captain Maron Deukalion and his terminators to drop into the Lion's den were thwarted, the teleport station onboard the Raptors cruiser were jammed by the Invigilus Deus firing unknown warp torpedoes which scattered the signals of the locator beacons. When the scrambling efforts of the Invigilus Deus were done, the Raptors teleported Brother Captain Maron and his terminators directly into the Lion's Den, unfortunately, the Lion was beyond the walls and Maron and his brethren were standing in a carefully plotted killing field.  Brother Captain Maron ordered his men to retreat back toward the Raptors assault approach, catching up  with Huron's landraider crusader, only to find it still active and it easily outpaced the remaining terminators.

Huron meanwhile had moved silently through the ruins and cover of the battlefield only to emerge with the roar of his heavy flamer which landed squarely in the Raptor's devastator squad, followed by the savage form of Huron enraged!  Huron's assault swiftly fell all of the devastators.  The Raptor's realizing that they were out-witted fought their way clear of the battlefield taking as many wounded and dead brothers as they could carry.  The toll on the Raptors was staggering, Captain Tomar was greviously wounded and would be out for weeks, if not months.  Brother Sergeant and master scout Borios Algernon was similarly wounded and it would take some time for him to adjust to having a new cybernetic eye.  However, the greatest loss was Master of the Hunt Brother Sergeant Malikir who was slain outright, his body never recovered from the ruins of his bike squadron.  Huron surveyed the damage and his losses, 6 terminators were seriously wounded, but would recover, and the armor was saved to be repaired.  Other losses were light and only one bastion of the outpost was seriously damaged.  The Raptors had failed in their attempt to kill the Lion, for the Lion never sleeps.  All transmissions from the Raptors agent fell silent, a vox cast into the void of his screams in pain were all that was heard by the Loyalist forces in the hours following the battle.

This battle was a 3,500 point Apocalypse battle with Matt R. leading the Astral Claws versus Jeff H. commanding the Raptors.  Jeff H. set up the table and prepared the battlefield fortifications where he would assault the Tyrant.  Armies were allowed to build anything up to 3,500 points including any Apocalypse formations.  The Astral Claws took "the Masters of the Chapter" formation and fielded Huron and 5 other captains who were strategically placed with their own squads in various fortifications.  Additionally, the Astral Claws took a landraider formation of three landraiders - but it wasn't very useful as the Raptors managed only a few glancing hits and only managed to destroy (wreck) one Landraider.

Jeff H. is the first player to lose one of his "build your own special character" models.  Jeff had the bad luck to have three of his named special characters fall in battle.  First to fall was his Brother Captain Tomar Elgos (who counted as Shrike), second was his build your own character, Veteran Sergeant and Master of the Hunt Malikir - who actually DIED in this game at the hands of the Tyrant.  The last of his characters to fall was Veteran Sergeant Borios Algernon (Counts as Telion) in his scout squad.  So Jeff has lost Shrike and Telion until Phase 2, unless he rolls a 4+ in which case they fight with reduced stats, Telion is BS 5, and LD 8, while Shrike is also BS 4, and LD 8.

So, for the first battle of Sector 3, the Secessionists have 16 points, the Loyalists 4.

More updates on Monday as the weekend battle reports flow in!

Badab War Update 1-12-2011

Endymion Cluster - Sector 2

Loyalist Howling Griffons (Eric) 1st time playing SM in eons.
Secessionist Astral Claws (Brooks)

Eric set up a scout squad with a chaplain in ruins in center of his deployment zone. Other scouts were deployed in the 3rd story ruins.
Brooks set up scout squad in ruins near center of his deployment zone & placed Captain with Space Marines in the center board 18" from Eric.  Eric had the initiative to take the first turn, Matt S. reminded us of SEIZE THE INITIATIVE & Brooks rolled a 6.  (For those of you who are reading this - Brooks rolling a "6" is like Larry Leadhead rolling a 6!)
Turn 1:  Brooks moved the SM. Vanguard jump in from table edge & ran 2" during the shooting phase. The Scouts fired upon the enemy scouts and missed 9 out of 10 times rolling 1s & 2s and Eric saved the one wound scored. The other SM squad ran 1" during the shooting phase, no assaults yet.

Eric moves up the center of the table with a Sternguard squad w/captain,  a techmarine & devastator squad w/rhino also moved on.  Additionally, a drop pod with a dreadnought deployed and with the combined shooting of the Scouts and the dreadnought, they managed to kill two of the Vanguard Veterans advancing up the center. 

Turn 2
Brooks terminators were delayed in reserves and did not appear. Brooks Vanguard jumped over the dreadnought shot with plasma pistols which resulted in a weapon destroyed (CC weapon) & a gets hot which kills a Vanguard.  They then charged and the assault was a draw with zero casualties.  The shooting from the other units was a non-event as those that hit failed to wound, or were saved.

Lots of stuff blows up, dies or otherwise happens as the battle report breaks down due to communications problems in the vox transponders for both sides!  The Astral Claws Terminators finally arrive from deep strike and shoot up the Howling Griffon Sterngaurd squad, but two survived.  The Astral Claws Vanguard finally destroy the Howling Griffon dreadnought. The Astral Claws Vanguard lost 4 marines during the assault and shooting, two were killed by the Howling Griffons, two were killed by weapons malfunctions.  The Astral Claws and Howling Griffons Captains slug it out with the Howling Griffon Captain slaughtering the Astral Claws Captain who dies with a whimper.  The last Astral Claws Space Marine missed his attacks and the remaining 4 Howling Griffins smashed him into an early grave.  In a blood bath for both sides, the Howling Griffins lose by 1 kill point.
Seccesionist Astral Claws: CP's 8
Loyalist Howling Griffons: CP's 1

Again the Astral Claws were active in Sector 2:

Sector 2 1500 points, rule book Annihilation / Pitch Battle.
Astral Claws (Brooks) Captain, 10 terminators, 10 Vanguard, 10 scout sniper rifle, 10 space marines.
Nova Marines (Kevin) Captain & command squad, land raider crusader, dreadnought, attack bike, 3 units of 10 space marines.
The Crusader killed lots of Vanguard who later assaulted the crusader & only succeeded in pissing it off & having it vomit the Nova Marine Captain & command squad.  The Astral Claws Terminators finally showed shooting up the Nova Marines command squad. The last two Astral Claws Vanguard attacked Nova Marines Captain & last Command squad marine only to scratch their storm shield and Iron Halo before being squished by the Nova Marines power fist.  The Nova Marines Captain & trooper consolidated away from the crusader only to be assaulted by the Astral Claws Terminators. The crusader got shaken and the Nova Marine Captain & marine survived several assault phases killing Terminators until finally the Nova Marine Captain died on turn 5.
The Nova Marine Dreadnought, attack bikes & marines managed to kill seven scouts by turn 5. By Turn four the dreadnought was almost within assault range of the scouts but they failed their leadership causing a tactical withdrawl but still shooting.  The Astral Claws lost a few good men, the Nova Marines lost five out of thirty.
At the end of turn 5 the Astral Claws rolled a 2 ending game with a draw.
Astral Claws:  4 CP's
Nova Marines:  4 CP's

Badab War Update - Battle Reports from Sector 2!

Astral Claws – (Secessionists) – Brooks

Nova Marines (Loyalists) – Kevin

Two Battles 1,500 point each using Planet Strike – Surprise Attack

Sector 2

The Astral Claws had been fortifying the power generator located on the planet Verkruz for several months.  While outside of the primary hive cities the generator supplied power to numerous agricultural communities responsible for supplying critical food stocks to the secessionist forces.  The Astral Claws Captain was well aware that its loss would severely constrict the Chapters ability to maintain a standing army on many of the hive cities located in the sector.

Klaxxons were blaring announcing the commencement of an attack.  The Astral Claws were not surprised as they had been tracking the Nova Marines fleet for several weeks.  The Nova Marines used the classic text book drop pod assault.  Thunder cannons were dropped just outside the complex and space marine laden drop pods focused their attack on the weakest part of the fortified complex.  Terminators, Vanguard veterans, and a dreadnought deep striked to add their fire power to the battle.  While the Astral Claws were in heavily fortified bunkers and gun emplacements, they were no match for the focused fire power of the Nova Marines.  The battle was not without cost to the Nova Marines, however, for their beloved Captain Aadok was seriously wounded leading the assault into the Astral Claws primary generator complex guarded by none other than the Captain of the Astral Claws.  The two Captains knew that each of them held the key to victory.  They faced off against each other like Roman gladiators in the arena, their troops standing back in awe as they charged forward and fought a brutal duel. 

Captain Aadok swung his power sword with such skill and speed that it was but a blur to the tenacious assault of his Astral Claws nemesis.  However, the Astral Claws Captain easily parried the flurry of blows and stepped back but for an instant and suffered only a minor wound.  His Nemesis was merely timing Captain Aadoks blows to wait for the perfect opening in his defense.  Soon, the Astral Claws Captain struck fast and deliberate, not a flurry of blows, but one blow, a coup de grace dropping Captain Aadok to the ground.  Upon seeing their beloved Captain fall, the remaining Nova Marines howled in rage and swarmed over the Astral Claws, shooting, cleaving, and carving a path to their fallen commander to reclaim his fallen body.  The Astral Claws Captain retreated or was spirited away by his own troops, however, the defenses were breached and their position untenable.  The Astral Claws retreated to lick their wounds and plot the assaults to throw the Nova Marines back into the void from whence they came.  Captain Aadok was seriously wounded, but he would live to see another battle, the death blow from his nemesis cost him the use of his second heart as it slowly healed.  It would be weeks before he was at full strength.  However, with possession of the generator, the Astral Claws had but one choice - to either retake the generator station or retreat from Verkurz leaving the garrison to fend for itself.

Victory: Nova Marines

The Apothecaries on the planet told Captain Aadok that he needed to remain under the care of the Apothecarion and be sequestered from activity for several weeks.  The battle had damaged his secondary heart which had to be isolated and allowed to heal and any strenuous activity would inhibit his abilities as they forced his blood not to clot to prevent serious complications on the internal flow of blood.  However, the Captain knew he had only days, if not hours before the Astral Claws regrouped and launched a counter-attack.  As that is what he would do. Captain Aadok deployed his Space Marines in defensive positions and placed his devastator squad in an elevated position on top of the generator.  He was grateful of the vindicator that had just arrived to help bolster the defense.  As well as a ten man assault squad held in reserves so he could react to any breach of his defensive line. 

The counter-attack came quick and furious as the Astral Claws assaulted the generator.  The Astral Claws had prepared for just this situation and had amassed an elite group supported by a terminator squad, vanguard veterans, scout snipers, and marines backed by armor.

Captain Aadok was taken aback by the initial attack by the sheer number of Nova Marines that had fallen in the first salvos of battle.  The Astral Claws vanguard assault squad landed and without any lossed quickly dispatched the Nova Marine assault squad limiting his ability to reinforce his faltering lines.  The Astral Claws Captain returned with vengeance. His squad quickly assaulted a fortified Nova Marine position killing all but two  Nova Marines between him and the generator.  The Nova Marine Vindicator and Astral Claws Predator engaged in a long range gunnery duel with each other.  Defeat looked imminent for the Nova Marines, however as a second founding Chapter, they are a noble chapter and do not fear death.   The Nova Marines fell back upon the great tomb of wisdom written by Guilliman and began to identify the Astral Claw squads that posed the greatest danger focus their fire upon.  At times least expected heroes do arise.  The Astral Claws Captain, fixated on the devastator squad and Captain Aadok, ordered his squad to dispatch the remaining Nova Marines and move forward.  However, the two Nova Marines began to dispatched Astral Claw after Astral Claw before giving their lives for the Emperor.  Using the precious time bought by their death the Nova Marines begsn eliminating various Astral Claws threats.  With his squad reduced in numbers, the Astral Claws Captain assaulted the generator and Nova Marine devastator squad.  The vengeance flared in his eyes as he charged straight for the Nova Marine Captain.  With his injuries Captain Aadok knew he was no match for his nemesis, the Astral Claws Captain.  However, Captain Aadok steeled himself and he would face his second battle with his nemesis with honor and glory.  Three Nova Marines tried to protect their Captain by placing themselves between the fury of the Astral Claws and their Captain. The split second it took to the Astral Claw Captain to kill the three marines was all Captain Aadok needed as his power sword sliced into the Astral Claw Captain ending his killing spree. With many squads on both sides below strength the Astral Claws began to falter.  Nova Marines gun fire began to effectively destroyed key Astral Claw squads.  The vindicator with his guns damaged rammed the predator but caused no damage.  With the attack broken and their Captain lying among the slain, the Astral Claws retreated leaving the power generator firmly in the Nova Marines Hands.

Victory: Nova Marines

Official Standings as of January 10:  (CP's = Campaign Points)

needed to claim: 25 either side

Sector 2: Secessionists = 5 Loyalists 

.

Sector 3: 

Loyalists 

= 1. 

99, Secessionists = 86

Sector 4:No CP's for either side - CP's 

Sector 5: Secssionists = 0, Loyalists = 

48; Secessionists = 50

Sector 6: Secessionists = 8 Loyalists 

Secessionists; 39 for Loyalists

Sector 7: No CP's for either side - CP's 

needed to claim: 10 either side

CP's needed to claim: 32 for 

CP’s needed to claim: Loyalists = 

needed to claim: 100 either side.

CP’s needed to claim: Loyalists = 

Secessionists = 14, 

= 19 - CP's needed to claim: 51 for Loyalists, 65 for Secessionists

Sector 1: No CP's for either side - CP's